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LeBron James will miss Los Angeles Lakers' visit to Golden State Warriors

Watch Los Angeles Lakers @ Golden State Warriors live on Sky Sports Arena in the early hours of Friday morning (3:30am)

Lebron James
Image: James racked up 40 points, eight rebounds and six assists against the New Orleans Pelicans last time out

In a match-up of the Western Conference's best and worst teams, the Lakers will take the court riding the momentum of a six-game winning streak, while the Warriors will be attempting to end a seven-game losing skid.

The Lakers haven't won a season series from their Northern California rivals since 2012-13 but have a chance to clinch this year's four-game set having won 120-94 at home in November and 125-120 in San Francisco earlier this month.

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Anthony Davis, who sat out the first head-to-head, contributed 27 points and 10 rebounds to Los Angeles' road win 19 days ago in his first San Francisco Bay Area regular-season game as a member of the Lakers.

LeBron James also recorded a double-double (22 points, 11 assists) in the win, giving him two in as many games against the Warriors this season. Unfortunately for the Lakers, he will not suit up owing to a sore left groin.

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The game opens a three-game trip for the Lakers, all against teams they have beaten during their current winning streak. After San Francisco, they will move on to Memphis on Saturday to face the Grizzlies, whom they beat 117-105 last week, and then to New Orleans on Sunday for a rematch with Zion Williamson and the Pelicans, who they dispatched 118-109 on Tuesday night.

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The Warriors, meanwhile, will be seeking to prevent their current losing streak from becoming their second-longest of the season. They had a 10-gamer earlier.

Another potential issue for Golden State is a possible look-ahead to the weekend, when Stephen Curry could return from a hand injury suffered in the fourth game of the season.

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Curry broke his left hand in October's 121-110 defeat to the Phoenix Suns
Image: Curry broke his left hand in October's 121-110 defeat to the Phoenix Suns

Curry has not played a game with newcomer Andrew Wiggins, who has started his Warriors career in strong fashion, but has since received the bulk of the defensive attention on his offensively challenged team.

Wiggins has been harassed into 9-for-30 shooting in Golden State's last two games, totalling just 24 points.

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Golden State coach Steve Kerr left the arena after Tuesday night's 112-94 loss to Sacramento looking forward to the day when he can surround his new small forward with better players.

"He knows our plays, so that's not an issue," Kerr responded to the media when asked to explain Wiggins' issues the past two games. "I think it will be a big deal when Steph comes back just so he can feel what it's like to play next to Steph and Draymond (Green) together.

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"I think that's the bigger thing, playing next to the guys that will be in the line-up with him next year. I think he will fit in nicely with those guys. He is doing a good job of executing the offense, and he knows what he is doing out there. We are short-handed right now. As we get healthier, I think we will see him fit better because he'll be able to fit into his role."

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