The Los Angeles Lakers enter their final preseason game looking for another win against the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers will enter this final preseason game without Kobe Bryant, but Coach Byron Scoot says that Kobe will play in the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
— What will Kobe Bryant make this season? Find out here! —
Lou Williams will be available tonight for the Lakers and will try to find a rhythm next to Marcelo Huertas as part of the second unit. The Warriors were without Klay Thompson in the first exhibition against the Lakers, but Klay will be available and in the starting lineup tonight for the Warriors.
The key for the Lakers will be to stay healthy, and it appears that a few Lakers are still fighting for a roster spot. With Huertas being a “lock” according to Coach Scott, the final spot will come down to Metta World Peace and Jabari Brown. The Lakers will use this final preseason game to tune up for the home opener on Wednesday.
First Quarter
The Warriors registered the first two points on the board with Thompson coming off of a curl for the mid-range jumper. D’Angelo Russell display his range on the following possession and made a jumpsuit on step inside of the three-point line. Julius Randle flexed his muscle on the next Lakers possession and completed a three-point play. Steph Curry caught fire and score the Warriors next eight points, draining a long two and back-to-back three pointers, giving the Warriors a 10-5 advantage. Randle continued to attack Draymond Green off of the dribble, displaying fancy footwork and finishing at the rim. Steph Curry assisted Green on another three-pointer for the Warriors, giving them a 21-10 lead with five minutes remaining in the first. Nick Young entered the contest and made his first three-point attempt, but it was matched on the other end by Klay Thompson. The Warriors continued their hot shooting making 7-9 from the three. Just before the quarter expired, Huertas found Ryan Kelly streaking down the court for the dunk, but the Lakers still trail 39-29.
Second Quarter
Julius Randle started the second quarter struggling offensively, traveling with the basketball on two consecutive possessions. D’Angelo Russell blocked a shot defensively and then assisted an Anthony Brown three-pointer, but once again the Warriors matched it with another three-pointer of their own, extending their lead to 46-32. D’Angelo Russell fouled Shaun Livingston on a jumper as the shot clock expired, but Livingston still managed to drain the shot and the Warriors lead by 20. Huertas froze the defense with a series of ball fakes and found Brandon Bass down low, but he was fouled on the layup attempt. The Lakers struggled stopping the Warriors in transition, and Golden State was able to extend their lead to 25 points with three minutes left in the half. Ryan Kelly grabbed a rebound and took the ball coast-to-coast for a contested right-handed layup, but the Lakers still trailed 72-50 at the half.
Third Quarter
The Warriors picked up where they left off and went on a 10-2 run and extended their lead to 30 points. Hibbert handed the ball off to Anthony Brown out of the post, and Brown converted a layup plus the foul. Once again, the Warriors matched the three-point play with a three-pointer of their own. Anthony Brown continues his hot shooting and knocked down an long two from the corner. Lou Williams found Russell streaking down the lane for an open layup, cutting the Lakers deficit to just 27 points midway through the third. Huertas turned the ball over and Steph lobbed it from just in front of half court and Andre Igoudala finished with a dunk at the rim, putting the Warriors up 100-71. The Warriors crashed the offensive glass and padded their second chance points, increasing their lead to 38 points. The Warriors dominated the Lakers on both sides of the floor in the third quarter, and went into the fourth up 112-74.
Fourth Quarter
Both teams started off slow in the fourth as the Lakers started the quarter with Russell, J. Brown, A. Brown, Bass, and Randle. A pair of free throws from Bass were the only early points for the Lakers. A floater from Russell gave the Laker their first basket but a Brandon Rush three kept Golden State ahead 117-78. Anthony Brown continued his solid outing with back-to-back three pointers and Randle got a layup for the Lakers. Metta World Peace checked in to massive cheers midway through the quarter and split a pair of free throws on his first possession. The Warriors continued to push their lead out further as no one could miss. A 3-point play from Williams got the Lakers deficit under 40 but Chris Babb hit a three to respond. A layup from Huertas gave the final margin of 136-97.
