The headline can give you an only a slight indication about the end result, not what actually happened on the court, at Chase Canter. Even if you watched that game, or looking to catch the highlights, you must focus and pay attention to see the approach of both the teams.
The current shape of Golden State Warriors remains a million miles away from what they used to be only a season ago. Right now they are soft, too easy to handle on both ends of the court, and so weak that any team with a good quarter or a half, can get away with the result. Just like the Los Angeles Lakers did in this match. Almost toying with the Dubs, torturing the home fans with their hot-and-cold approach, and that too almost at will. It seemed!
The Lakers committed a mammoth 24 turnovers in the match and got away. They were flat, lacked the usual fervency in defence as if they were not interested in this aspect of the game at all, and still got away. In fact, the Lakers offered so little in defence in the first quarter that head coach Frank Vogel was quoted on saying during the break that his team was “not honouring the game.” Nevertheless, despite the Lakers being so poor for the large part of the game, they managed to win 125-120. The result summed up the Warriors, that they are pathetic.
LeBron James played the role of a playmaker in the first half but caught fire in the second phase to end the game with 22 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, that included a three-pointer with 17.6 seconds left in the match.
Avery Bradley was hot on the night as well, as he finished with 21 points with five 3-pointers. Anthony Davis was good with his offence, tallying for 27 points and 10 rebounds. Kyle Kuzma (12 points, 6 assists) and Rajon Rondo (11 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds) also made significant contributions.
This was Warriors’ first home game since Kobe Bryant died in a fatal helicopter crash and the home team honoured the Lakers’ legendary player, along with his daughter, Gianna, and the other seven helicopter crash victims.
Andrew Wiggins, who was traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, Jacob Evans III and Omari Spellman, impressed on his debut for the Warriors. He has averaged 26.1 points per game against LeBron James’ teams, Wiggins, was near about those numbers as he ended with 24 points. Marquese Chriss clocked the game-high efforts for Steve Keer’s team with 27 points.
With that win, the Lakers returned to winning ways following a 111-121 defeat to Houston Rockets and improved to 39-12 on the season. The 16-time champions will return to the base for a home clash against Phoenix Suns on Tuesday morning (IST).