Golden State Warriors close gap on LA Lakers with win, Giannis Antetokounmpo suffers injury scare in win over Celtics

The Golden State Warriors secured what could be a critical 134-120 victory over the LA Lakers on Tuesday, closing the gap to their rivals to just half a game, as well as securing the season tie-breaker.

With just a handful of games remaining in the NBA season, the two Western Conference juggernauts seem to be locked in to play the No. 9 v No. 10 play-in game.

The Lakers seemed poised to host that clash, but now the Warriors will feel confident of sneaking ahead.

After missing LeBron James to flu-like symptoms for Monday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers were this time without Anthony Davis for similar reasons.

Davis – who had to miss a large chunk of the Timberwolves loss due to aggravating an eye injury – was at the Crypto.com Arena but had to go home due to a severe headache and nausea, with James still only a game-time decision.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer ended up playing 36 minutes, registering 33 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists.

But it wasn’t enough as Steph Curry (23 points) and Klay Thompson (27 points) rolled back the years with a vintage performance.

"We know we're as good as any team in the league when we're whole," James said after the game was over.

"And when we're not, it's hard for us to make up, especially having a guy like AD not playing. It's almost pretty much impossible to make up for what he provides for our ballclub both offensively and defensively."

The pressure will be on for the Lakers who may or may not have Davis back for the run-in.

They are guaranteed a spot in the play-in but won’t want to drop down to the tenth seed.

As for the Warriors, not only are they just half a game back from the Lakers, but they are just a game behind the eighth seed Sacramento Kings and even have an outside chance of catching the seventh seed Phoenix Suns, who are two games ahead, albeit with the tie-breaker.

Elsewhere there was a worrying sight during the Milwaukee Bucks’ 104-91 win over fellow Eastern Conference contender Boston Celtics when two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo fell to the floor clutching his left leg.

It was a non-contact injury and he had to be helped off the court, with Bucks coach Doc Rivers confirming he has gone for MRI.

When asked how concerned he was Rivers said "High, I would say that.

"He's Giannis. I think everyone probably feels the same way as I do right now. We're just going to hope for the best."

Star guard Damian Lillard said "Any time you see one of your team-mates go down, it's I think a real level of concern,

"We spend a lot of time around each other, more than we would our families. I think that was the No. 1 thing.

"And then for it to be your best player, the most important part of our team, at this point in the season, it was like an, 'Oh, [damn]' moment, especially because there was nobody else around."

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