The stars sat courtside in street clothes. The stakes remained sky-high. And when the final buzzer sounded at Crypto.com Arena on February 7, 2026, the Los Angeles Lakers had secured a crucial 108-102 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

The Missing Superstars

Steph Curry watched in a suit, his knee keeping him out. Luka Doncic sat nearby, still nursing a hamstring. The game's biggest names became its most expensive spectators.

That did not stop the intensity. The Lakers entered at 31-19, holding fourth place in the West. The Warriors at 28-24 clung to eighth.

Golden State had won the first meeting 119-109 on Opening Night. This time, Los Angeles needed a statement.

The Decisive Moment

LeBron James delivered it. Late in the fourth quarter, with the game hanging in the balance, James hit a turnaround jumper. The shot fell. The foul was called. The and-1 opportunity sealed the Warriors' fate.

The Lakers improved to 32-19. They maintained their grip on fourth place.

The Warriors fell to 28-25. They remain in the play-in picture but continue sliding toward the edge.

The Bigger Picture

The Lakers have won six of their last eight games. They have positioned themselves as serious contenders, modeling their approach after the back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Los Angeles is now 27-23 to the Over this season. They are 14-7 covering the total at home. The SportsLine Projection Model, which has returned over ,000 in profit for bettors, shows the Lakers covering 70% of simulations at home against Western Conference opponents.

The Lakers and Warriors will meet again. Next time, the superstars might actually play.