These are the last few chapters of legendary meet-ups. It’s the clash between Stephen Curry and LeBron James on Saturday night Rivals Week challenge. This match-up ultimately takes us to the legendary Cavs-Dubs rivalry from the mid-2010s. Even though it was a back-and-forth between Bron and Steph, it would not be the same if the Bay Area superstar didn’t have his OG sidekicks. While Klay Thompson has left the franchise, Steph must only manage with Draymond Green. But tonight, the star forward doesn’t lace up.

DrayMagic has been warming the bench over the past two weeks and dealing with multiple injuries. Firstly, he missed three games straight suffering from back tightness. On January 18th, he returned to the floor to take on the Wizards. However, three minutes into the game, the star checked out and headed to the locker room. The team later ruled him out for the rest of the game, citing a calf strain.

Since then, Draymond Green has again missed three games, and tonight, he will miss the Lakers games as well. Moreover, Warriors Insider Anthony Slater confirmed it, as he revealed the Dubs’ starting lineup for the event. Here it is: Stephen Curry, Buddy Hield, Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Nevertheless, it’s indeed a setback for the Dubs, taking on their arch-rival without their principal orchestrator. The Warriors have a 1-2 record thus far without Green in this stretch.

We all are aware of the unparalleled chemistry that Stephen Curry and Draymond Green display on the floor. It’s like poetry in motion. “He’s such a unique player,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s one of the best playmaking bigs in the league playing with Steph [Curry]. When he goes out, we become more traditional, spread the floor, put shooters out there. Steph and Dray have such a connection that when they’re together out there, they’re playing their game and we’re playing our game. As soon as Draymond leaves the floor, it becomes a different game.”

However, tonight, the Baby-faced Assassin will have to do it without him. The Warriors are on a six-game homestand, and their game tonight against the Lakers will be their second. This will be the Lakers and Warriors second matchup of the season. The Lakers will look to record a 2-0 record against their conference rivals. They first met last month on Christmas Day.

The Lakers came out on top on that occasion, 115-113, thanks to the heroics of Austin Reaves in the final seconds. Green had a solid game when he first met with the Lakers this season. He recorded only three points on 1-for-6 shooting from the field, 10 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks in 34 minutes of action. Considering the Dubs’ underwhelming run in the last two seasons, can Steph pull off a W without Green?

Will the Dubs seek revenge without Draymond Green?

Even though the Dubs looked completely off-color in the recent past, the team seemed to have found a new zeal. In the team’s last outing against the Chicago Bulls, the NBA world witnessed something special. Maybe it’s the beginning of a new chapter in Steph’s career. It’s the Quentin Post effect.

It wasn’t until the last few days Coach Steve Kerr decided to push Post into the mix, as a response to the plaguing injuries. The 7-foot rookie seemed to respond to his opportunity immediately. Playing in his fourth game, the big man recorded his career-high 20 points with 5 three-pointers.

Speaking of his performance, Steph said, “It was interesting tonight… That was like building chemistry. I don’t think we played together. Even in training camp, even in practice… We’ll develop a chemistry for sure. Just knowing where he’s gonna be… It looked like he fit, so it was kind of cool to watch.” It’s definitely a boost for the Warriors to have a big with a long-range shooting prowess. It will further increase the space on the floor, making it easier for Steph. Who do you think will win tonight? Let us know in the comments.