Golden State stunned by Lakers again, Latest Others News - The New Paper
Sports

Golden State stunned by Lakers again

Golden State stunned by Lakers again as Curry's three-pointer streak ends

LA LAKERS 117

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 97

Despite all the warnings from Golden State coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors didn't heed his caution.

"We talked about it because this is the third straight year where we've come here and dropped the ball and laid an egg," Warriors point guard Stephen Curry said.

"We didn't want to let it happen again, but we did."

Lou Williams and Julius Randle scored 20 points apiece, and the Los Angeles Lakers stunned the Warriors 117-97 at Staples Center yesterday morning (Singapore time).

Randle also had a game-high 14 rebounds as the Lakers (3-3) beat the Warriors for the second time in a row. They also defeated Golden State on March 6.

"Honestly, we're looking at the big picture and the big picture isn't beating Golden State, and then losing Sunday night at home," said Lakers coach Luke Walton, who captured a win in the inaugural regular-season meeting with the Warriors, the team he served as an assistant the previous two seasons.

"The big picture is that we make it really hard on teams who come into Staples Center and get wins and, so far, we've had two home games against two really good teams and won both."

Los Angeles beat the Houston Rockets at Staples in the season opener.

D'Angelo Russell contributed 17 points yesterday morning and Larry Nance Jr. collected 12 points, nine rebounds and a crowd-pleasing dunk for Los Angeles.

"We played aggressive on both ends tonight and really asserted our will defensively, which is like the biggest key to the game," said Nance, who hit all six of his field-goal attempts.

"We were just ready for them."

Kevin Durant scored 27 points, while Draymond Green had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Warriors (4-2), who were coming off a blowout of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.

"It's our annual beat-down at Staples by the Lakers. They do this every year," Kerr said.

"Let's just give them credit. They came in sky high with a ton of energy."

Curry had 13 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, but saw his NBA-record streak of hitting at least one three-pointer end at 157 games.

"I would have loved to have finished my career making one every game," said Curry, who missed all 10 of his three-point shots and finished five of 17 from the floor.

"I'll just start a new one. Kind of weird not to make one, but I will keep shooting."

Klay Thompson was four of 18, including two of 10 from long distance, en route to 10 points.

Durant scored 20 or more points for the 70th consecutive regular-season game - the longest run since Michael Jordan had a 69-game streak during the 1990-91 season.

The Lakers, who led by as many as 19 in the first half, took a 65-49 lead at the break.

ASSISTS RECORD

The Warriors' inability to convert three-points cost them. Golden State made just two of 17 (11.8 per cent) from behind the arc in the half and five of 32 (15.6 per cent) overall.

In the third quarter, the Warriors rallied. They cut the gap to 87-81 after a lay-up by reserve forward Kevon Looney with 1:40 remaining, but a basket and two foul shots by Williams and bucket by Brandon Ingram, who had a season-high 12 points, allowed the Lakers to grab a 93-82 edge heading into the fourth.

"You give a team a 15-, 18-point lead, everything has to go right to get back in the game," Curry said.

It didn't for the Warriors, who got no closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Meanwhile, Chris Paul became the Los Angeles Clippers' all-time assists leader, scoring 27 points and handing out 11 assists in an otherwise unremarkable 99-88 victory over the Grizzlies in Memphis yesterday morning.

Paul passed Randy Smith (3,498) for first place on the Clippers' career assists list with 3,502.

"It's cool anytime your name will last," Paul said. - Reuters.


OTHER RESULTS

Washington 95 Atlanta 92, Toronto 96 Miami 87, Brooklyn 95 Charlotte 99, Chicago 104 NY Knicks 117, Memphis 88 LA Clippers 99, New Orleans 111 Phoenix 112 (OT), Dallas 95 Portland 105, Utah 86 San Antonio 100.

NBALos Angeles LakersGOLDEN STATE WARRIORS