LeBron vs Steph - NBA legends renew rivalry as NBA playoffs tip off

May 18, 2021
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry.
1
2

(AP):

The matchups for the NBA's new play-in tournament are set. It starts tonight with the Eastern Conference, then things shift to the Western Conference tomorrow night, when Golden State Warriors travel to the Staples Center to face the Los Angeles Lakers.

LeBron James and Stephen Curry have squared off four times for championships, back in the days of those Warriors-Cleveland matchups in the NBA finals being annual events. They'll square off tomorrow for a slightly different prize - the No. 7 seed in the West playoffs, but it'll still be a game loaded with hype and intrigue.

"It'll be a different scenario, but another chapter in it," said Curry, the NBA's scoring champion this season for the second time in his career. "At the end of the day, you expect greatness. That's the part I've enjoyed so much about playing in the finals against him ... those games that matter, it just brings out another level of intensity and excitement and a sense of urgency about it, because you know how good you have to play to win games like that."

Second choice to win

The Lakers are still the second choice to win the NBA title, according to FanDuel, behind only Brooklyn. And they're the favourites to win the West. Problem is, technically, they're not in the playoffs yet - and they need a win in the play-in round, Wednesday or Friday if necessary, just to get back to the postseason and have a chance to defend their championship.

James said he considers Curry the MVP of the NBA this season. He's eager to cross paths in a big-time moment with Curry and the Warriors once again, and said he'll take a playoff-game approach to the play-in.

"They've got championship DNA as well," James said. "They've been there. They know what it takes and what it feels like to be in pressure games."

Other Sports Stories