In a spectacular game with a playoff atmosphere, the Golden State Warriors prevailed against the Los Angeles Lakers. At 117:115, Klay Thompson showed by far the best game since his comeback and was unstoppable from a distance in the fourth quarter.
Golden State Warriors (42-15) – Los Angeles Lakers (26-31) 117:115 (BOXSCORE)
“It was fun. It means everything to me. I’ve had some tough days over the past few years,” Thompson said after propelling the Warriors to victory in a hard-fought game with 16 points in the final quarter. Thompson sank 5 of his 9 threes for a total of 33 points and the best plus/minus of any player. “He was phenomenal, he completely took over the game,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
The level of the game was high, Steph Curry (24, 7/17 FG), Andrew Wiggins (19, 7/15 FG) and No.7 pick Jonathan Kuminga (18 and 9) were in a good mood, with the guests in particular far better from a distance (40.7 vs. 31.6 percent). After a 15-point lead, the Lakers made a comeback, but in the end the Warriors left the floor as winners after two losses in a row.
As usual, the Lakers were led by LeBron James, who will have a very special memory of the day. With 26 points (9/27 FG, 14 rebounds, 8 assists), he moved up to number 1 in the all-time scoring list, which includes the regular season and the playoffs – past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But neither was he accurate, like Anthony Davis (16, 5/13 FG), while Russell Westbrook made one of his better games (19, 7/13 FG, 7 rebounds). Strong support also came from the bench with Talen Horton-Tucker (17), Austin Reaves (13) and Malik Monk (12).
Lakers: LeBron James reaches next milestone
Carmelo Anthony missed his fourth straight game, Westbrook (back) and Davis (wrist) recovered in time. The first highlights were provided by Kuminga, who scored twice with a dunk, one of them even with a foul. But the King also registered with a powerful slam in the game, while Lakers assistant Phil Handy picked up a technical foul. After a 7-0 run, the Warriors were up early with +8, the Lakers’ offense was very unbalanced. But Golden State was completely cold from a distance. 32:26 after twelve minutes.
After a three-pointer from Thompson’s corner, the lead grew to 13 points and Frank Vogel, annoyed, called an early time-out in the second quarter. LeBron was the defining player at the Lakers, first scoring himself from long range and then finding Reaves dreamlike. In general, the reservists around Reaves and Horton-Tucker played good minutes in a brisk game in which AD also had their say with two three-point games in a row. The Lakers hit ten throws in a row. Several curry floaters saved GS a 65-62 halftime lead.
Thompson on fire! Warriors schlagen Lakers
With a three from the left wing with a good seven minutes on the clock in the third quarter, James pushed himself to the top of the all-time scoring list, a little later the Warriors got some breathing room with a 7-0 run. Curry finally hit the first three of the game (+9), but the Lakers stood their ground, which the much scolded Westbrook also contributed to with good scenes. LA hit the three much better, the minutes without Curry lacked structure and Horton-Tucker gave the visitors the lead for the first time since the early stages. Before the final quarter, the Warriors were just ahead again: 95:94.
There were early indications that the decision would only be made in crunch time, Reaves cleared Thompson spectacularly and initiated Monk’s three point play on the other end. The Lakers led by 6 points before Thompson took revenge on Reaves with an and-one. Kuminga picked up his fifth foul, Wiggins blocked LeBron, Thompson sank a three-pointer to equalize, surpassing his previous top score since the comeback (23).
LeBron and Westbrook were on +4, in between free throws for Kevon Looney after the Lakers Challenge had been withdrawn. At the score of 103:109, Thompson hit a very important three and a few seconds later the next. It was spectacular, a Davis slam followed by a Wiggins three and Thompson’s 14, 15 and 16 points in the final quarter. Yet the Lakers were still alive.
Davis missed a free throw to equalize a minute before the end, the Warriors secured the ball with a lot of effort and Curry sank the layup to make it 117:114. James missed a short hook shot, but there was one last chance. James was actually sent to the line on Curry’s three-pointer, but missed the first. He missed the third on purpose, but the rebound ended up with the Warriors.
