Lakers News: LA Spoils Stephen Curry's Return For Warriors, Wins 113-105
In light of his team's mounting injuries, Los Angeles Lakers star center Anthony Davis put the club on his shoulders today.
He led the way for a surprise LA home win against the Golden State Warriors, who had just gotten All-Star point guard Stephen Curry back in their lineup following an 11-game absence.
The matinee matchup was broadcast nationally on ABC. Both clubs were still missing several players. The Warriors were still sans one starter, Andrew Wiggins (due to personal reasons) -- plus a few bench player absences -- and the Lakers were without two, point guard D'Angelo Russell (Dennis Schröder started for him) and All-Star small forward LeBron James (Troy Brown Jr. subbed in for LBJ).
As if that was't enough, Los Angeles would also lose backup center Mo Bamba in the first half due to a left ankle sprain and was subsequently ruled out for the game's final two quarters. LA can ill afford any more injuries, so here's hoping its remaining available players seal their ankles in bubble wrap down this season's home stretch!
The Lakers got off to a terrific start in the first quarter, capitalizing on shaky shooting performances from all non-Klay Thompson Warriors starters. Golden State's high-scoring shooting guard notched nine points, though no other Dubs starter scored anything. LA, meanwhile, saw all its starters get on the board in that first first frame, paced predictably by AD's 15 points. Davis also showed off his solid passing game in the post early:
After leading by as many as 20 points in the first quarter, the Lakers let Golden State get right back into the action in the bout's second frame, thanks to improved ball movement and shooting. All-Star point guard Stephen Curry had missed 11 games prior to today, and took a quarter to work his way back into a rhythm. He started firing on all cylinders in the bout's second quarter, scoring eight points in the frame.
Thompson (15 points in the half), combo guard Jordan Poole (10 points in the frame) and Draymond Green (seven points in the period) were also big parts of the Warriors' comeback.
LA still led at the half, but just barely, 55-54, with the momentum having thoroughly swung in the Warriors' favor. AD led the way for LA with 23 points, Troy Brown Jr. already had nine of his eventual 14, and Austin Reaves had six points and four assists through the game's first two quarters.
Both clubs exchanged buckets in the third quarter. Davis, Malik Beasley, Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt did most of the damage to help put Los Angeles up by a couple possessions, 78-72, heading into the fourth.
Curry, Green and reserve wing Anthony Lamb helped the Warriors chip away at LA, even after the Lakers had at one point built out an eight-point lead. Golden State eventually knotted things up at 91-91 with 5:37 left in regulation... and were promptly outscored 22-14 the rest of the way. The final margin: 113-105 Lakers.
Clutch scoring from Davis -- and several critical free throws courtesy of Schroder, Beasley and Reaves -- helped seal the victory down the stretch. AD poured in a team-leading 12 points in the period.
Davis was the headliner today, scoring 39 points on 14-of-25 shooting from the floor, pulling down eight rebounds, dishing out six dimes, and swatting away eight blocks. Six Lakers finished scoring in double digits (all five starters plus Reaves). Vanderbilt snuck in a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double in just 23:39.
Schröder had a fairly inefficient shooting night, going just 4-of-13 from the field for 11 points, but his passing (six assists) proved key for LA.
As usual, the Lakers struggled from deep compared to the competition (Golden State went 18-of-52, much better than LA's 11-of-33 night from long range). LA's defense/Golden State's love of chucking threes yielded two (!) 18-point quarters (the first and third) for the Warriors, to the Lakers' eternal benefit.
The Lakers badly outscored the Warriors in the paint, 40-26, and enjoyed slight advantages in rebounds (46-42) and assists (29-24). LA also protected the ball more effectively, coughing up just seven turnovers to Golden State's 12.
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