Steph Curry and LeBron James have been two of the brightest stars of the 2010s and the 2020s. They are two of the oldest players in the league as well. Despite being at the tail end of their career, Steph and LeBron have a rivalry that cannot compare to anything else. It is the most popular matchup. Fans love to see these two go head-to-head. With a bit of help from the Houston Rockets, these two might be heading to an epic first-round matchup in this year’s playoffs.
Rockets Can Set the Stage for Steph vs. LeBron Playoff Matchup
As things stand on April 4th, the Warriors and Lakers would play in the first round of the playoffs as the fourth vs. fifth seed. The Lakers have a full game advantage for the fourth seed, but they are also half a game behind for the third seed. The race for the playoff seeding in the West can go down to the wire, with the difference between the third seed and the seventh seed only two games. The Rockets, right now, are standing secure in the second spot.
Yet, looking at the standings and the remaining schedule, it is evident that one team will have a huge impact on the seeding and a possible Steph vs. LeBron rivalry matchup in the first round. The Rockets have five games left to play in the season. Four of them are against the Nuggets, the Warriors, the Lakers, and the Clippers.
Out of the Lakers, Warriors, Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Timberwolves, Minnesota has the easiest remaining schedule. The Warriors have the most home games remaining, four. The Lakers have to play the Thunder twice, both on the road. The Lakers hold the tie-breaker against the Warriors, while the Warriors hold the tie-breaker with the Grizzlies and the Timberwolves.
The Epic Rivalry By the Numbers
When the Warriors and the Lakers played on Christmas Day this season, it was the most-watched game in five years. Before the trade deadline, the Warriors were almost out of the play-in seeds, and the Lakers were fighting to escape the play-in. Now, both teams are headed toward possibly playing each other for meaningful, high-reward games in the first round of the playoffs.
Steph and LeBron’s rivalry has left a mark in the league for more than a decade. They met in four consecutive Finals in the 2010s, with Steph winning three of those. In total, these two have played 56 games against each other, with 28 coming in the playoffs. Steph holds an advantage in playoff wins, 17 to 11, while LeBron is more successful in the regular season, 14-13. The King also has one play-in victory.
Fans surely remember the epic play-in game from a few years ago. It was the first time the NBA introduced the concept, with the Lakers and Warriors going head-to-head. The game came down to the wire, with Steph posting 37 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. LeBron, however, got the better end with a triple-double posting 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Who wouldn’t want to see a seven-game series between these two, right? The last time they met was in the 2023 second round, with LeBron and the Lakers winning the series in six games.
Photo credit: © Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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