The Los Angeles Lakers look to rebound after a tough loss. Tonight they take on the Golden State Warriors. Check out our live recap:
1st Quarter
With D’Angelo Russell, Nick Young, and Julius Randle all out to due injury, the Lakers starting lineup consisted of Jose Calderon, Jordan Clarkson Luol Deng, Brandon Ingram, and Timofey Mozgov. The Warriors started their usual lineup of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Zaza Pachulia.
The Lakers began the game active as Ingram blocked a Durant shot that led to a Deng slam-dunk. On the ensuing possession, Calderon buried a three-pointer to give the Lakers an early 5-0 lead. The Warriors finally got on the board after baskets by Thompson and Durant. Good ball movement by the Lakers led to a Clarkson three-pointer but Durant responded with an easy slam to bring them within two points midway through the quarter.
Two straight three-pointers from Curry and Durant gave Golden State their first lead of the game that forced Luke Walton to call a Lakers timeout. Consecutive turnovers by the Lakers led to easy baskets for the Warriors, prompting a 13-0 run. Larry Nance Jr. stopped the bleeding momentarily but Curry drilled another three-pointer on the following possession extending the lead to seven points with two minutes left.
Ingram scored his first basket of the night by connecting on a midrange jumper that was followed by a Lou Williams floater. The Warriors end the quarter with good passing that led to open baskets that gave them a 10 point lead as the first quarter winded down.
Los Angeles trailed at the end of the quarter, 30-20.
2nd Quarter
Golden State continued their strong play as Durant drilled another three-pointer from the corner and Andre Igoudala scored on a well-contested jumper. A couple of more Laker turnovers turned into Warrior baskets that extended the lead to 14 points, which forced another Lakers timeout.
A pair of Clarkson free-throws and floaters by Clarkson and Williams brought the Lakers back within 11 points, but Patrick McCaw responded with a three-pointer for the Warriors. Williams was able to drive inside the paint for a lay-up to cut the lead to single digits that forced Steve Kerr to call a timeout.
Thomas Robinson had a nice sequence when he blocked a lay-up attempt by Pachulia and was rewarded with a nice pass by Mozgov for a lay-up of his own. Clarkson delivered another three to bring the Lakers within five points.
A stretch of sloppy play from both teams led to both coaches being visibly upset, but Mozgov was able to use a nice spin move that led to a foul and two free throws. The Warriors quickly responded with five quick points to extend their lead back to eight.
The Lakers shoot 35.6 percent from the field in the first half as they trail 53-43.
3rd Quarter
After a few Warrior baskets to open the quarter, Deng got the Lakers on the board on an easy lay-up. After Durant connected on a pull-up jumper, Ingram responded with one of his own. Beautiful passing by Golden Stated led to a wide-open three-pointer for Green, extending the lead to 17 points.
Two straight turnovers by Calderon led to consecutive baskets by the Warriors that forced a Lakers timeout. Superior play by the Warriors ballooned the lead to 22 points midway through the quarter.
Ingram, Nance Jr., and Tarik Black were able to knock down close baskets to stop the offensive onslaught by the Warriors. Curry drilled a deep three-pointer to give him 16 points on the night. The Lakers were able to score a few baskets before the quarter ended, but still trail big heading into the fourth quarter, 80-64.
4th Quarter
Durant opened the quarter by hitting another three-pointer, giving him 24 points. An offensive rebound by Nance Jr. led to a Golden State foul, which Black converted into two free throws. Durant, once again, was able to get Black confused on his feet that led to a nice looking pull up jumper.
A nice cut by Thompson extended the Warriors lead to 19 points, but Williams was able to respond with a basket of his own. On the next two Golden State possessions, Curry connected on his fourth three-pointer of the night and delivered a nice pass to Kevon Looney for an easy slam-dunk.
Two straight steals by the Lakers turned into easy baskets for the Lakers to cut their deficit to 15 points with fewer than six minutes to play. After a timeout, Robinson stole the ball from Pachulia and ran for a slam-dunk on the other end of the floor. Durant ended a quick Lakers run by driving past Robinson for an and-one.
Back door baskets by Curry and Looney gave the Warriors a 20-point lead as the quarter winded down. A strong night by Durant; 29 points, six rebounds, and nine assists were too much for the Lakers to overcome. Clarkson led all Lakers with 20 points and five steals.
The Lakers lose to the Warriors for the second time in three nights, 109-85.
