In a very tight Californian derby, the Warriors got away with a heat stroke from Klay Thompson in the last quarter, author of 16 points, including a big money time with several banderillas. LeBron James had 3 free throws to earn overtime, but he missed the first. The Warriors win 117-115 to end their 2-game losing streak and bring their record to 42-15 while the Lakers continue to tumble with this 3rd straight loss for a 26-31 record.
Klay finishes with 33 points at 12/22 including 5/9 from afar while Steph Curry adds 24 points at 7/17, but only 1/8 from afar, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Andrew Wiggins (19 points at 7/15 including 3/7 behind the arc) and Jonathan Kuminga were very valuable (18 points at 8/11 and 9 rebounds). moments (12/38) while the Lakers stayed in the game thanks to their long distance success (11/27). LeBron finishes with 26 points at 9/27, 15 rebounds and 8 assists. Anthony Davis is discreet with 16 points at 513 and 7 rebounds, not the case of an excellent Austin Reaves, author of 13 points at 5/5.
Facing uninspired Lakers in attack, contrast with the movement to the Warriors, not rewarded by their awkwardness from afar, the Warriors raced in the lead in this first half and counted up to 15 points ahead, 41 -26. But under the impetus of LeBron, who found his teammates in an armchair, the Lakers limited the breakage well, successful from afar, 7/11 at the break to finally be led by only 3 points on a last banderilla by Avery Bradley.
Returning from the locker room, LeBron James did everything for the Lakers, still successful from afar, but unable to come back up. On the contrary, it was the Warriors, thanks to good passages from Kuminga, Wiggins and an award-winning shot from Steph Curry, who resumed their ease, 85-76.
The visitors hung on with their outside address and they even did better than that since on long shots from Monk and THT, they took the lead 88-87. Poole’s 2 + 1 and then his two shots did the Warriors good, but on a last shot from Austin Reaves, the Lakers were only one unit away at the end of the 3rd.
With an excellent Austin Reaves at the start of the quarter, notably author of a big counter that led to a 2 + 1 from Monk, the Lakers made a mini-break with the help of THT, 101-95. The Klay Thompson show started with a 2+1, then another jump shoot and finally a 3-pt which tied the two teams, 103-103 with less than 6 minutes left.
The match got carried away and seemed to tip in favor of the Lakers with a 6-0 thanks to LeBron, Westbrook and even Reaves. But Klay planted 2 consecutive 3-pt shots, and Wiggins added another to get ahead 112-111. Reaves had two shots, but Klay replied again from behind the arc, 115-113 Warriors with 1:30 remaining. After an offensive rebound from Davis, the latter was sent to the line, but returned only one of his two attempts. In the wake Steph Curry managed a superb penetration to put the locals in an ideal position with 46 seconds to go. The Lakers missed another shot near the circle, then Curry missed from distance giving the visitors a chance to equalize. LeBron got 3 pitches for a foul by Curry, but missed the first, sealing the victory for the Warriors.
