OAKLAND -- Though the JaVale McGee ring presentation has been postponed, there will be no shortage of familiar faces sharing the court with the Warriors on Christmas Day.
The Lakers, now led by longtime Warriors adversary LeBron James and coached by ex-Warriors assistant Luke Walton, are coming to Oracle Arena. It’s James’ first visit to Oakland since he signed with LA last July.
Pregame coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 3:30 p.m. with Warriors Outsiders, followed by SportsNet Central at 4. Tipoff for the ABC/ESPN telecast is scheduled for 5.
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This is the sixth consecutive Christmas Day game for the Warriors (23-11), and their fourth in a row with James as an opponent. The three previous holiday matchups came when James was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
[RELATED: How LeBron is XMas gift that keeps on giving for Warriors]
The Warriors, coming off a 129-127 win over the Clippers on Sunday, have won eight of their last 10 games.
The Lakers (19-14) have lost three of their last four, most recently taking a 107-99 setback to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in LA.
Golden State Warriors
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Warriors
F Kevin Durant
F Draymond Green
C Kevon Looney
G Klay Thompson
G Stephen Curry
Lakers
F LeBron James
F Kyle Kuzma
C Ivica Zubac
G Brandon Ingram
G Lonzo Ball
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: F Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) is listed as probable. C DeMarcus Cousins (left Achilles’ tendon rehab), G Jacob Evans (left foot contusion) and C Damian Jones (left pectoral surgery) are listed as out.
Lakers: C Tyson Chandler (back spasms) is listed as questionble. F Michael Beasley (personal) and C JaVale McGee (respiratory infection) are listed as out.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Warriors: Coach Steve Kerr changed his starting lineup Sunday, inserting Green at C and Jonas Jerebko PF. With Zubac, at 7-foot-1, starting at C for LA, it’s possible that Jerebko could get a second straight start, sending Looney to the bench.
Durant tweaked his ankle Sunday against the Clippers but insisted he was “good” and is expected to play.
Curry had his first zero-turnover game of the season against the Clippers.
PG Shaun Livingston and F Alfonzo McKinnie were subpar last time out but rarely have consecutive poor games.
After 12 consecutive games in which he played at least 10 minutes, C/F Jordan Bell has played only 12 minutes over the last three games combined and got a DNP-CD against the Clippers.
Lakers: With McGee and Chandler coping with back spasms, the Lakers are forced to play a lot of “small ball,” which suits their offense but not their defense.
Despite a desire to reduce James’ minutes in his 16th season, he’s averaging 35.1 per game, 11th in the NBA.
Ingram, at 6-9, appears to have replaced Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as the starting SG. The Lakers reportedly have made KCP available in trade.
Kuzma has been superb this month, averaging 21.7 points (50.6 pct FG), 6.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
This is the 20th consecutive Christmas Day game for the Lakers. The franchise has 22 wins on Christmas, tied with the Knicks for No.1 all time.