Warriors
Lakers pull away in the second and third quarters, beat Warriors 127-105
The Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 127-105 at Crypto.com Arena and moved to 2-0. They shot 56.8% and led by as many as 35. The Warriors fall to 0-2.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 1 h ago01The story of the nightThe game turned in the middle quartersThe first quarter was even.
The first quarter was even. The Lakers led 34-33. Then the Lakers outscored the Warriors 32-19 in the second quarter and led 66-52 at the half. The third quarter ended the game as a contest. Los Angeles scored 36 points and Golden State scored 16, and the Lakers went into the fourth ahead 102-68. Their biggest lead was 35. The Warriors never led by more than 3. The teams traded the lead 10 times, but all of that came early. Golden State won the fourth quarter 37-25, which only made the final score look closer than the game was.
02Doncic, Kessler and Reaves lead the wayLuka Doncic scored 28 points with 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
Luka Doncic scored 28 points with 8 rebounds and 7 assists. He made 5 of 12 threes and all 9 of his free throws. He also had 6 turnovers. Walker Kessler was perfect from the field, 12 of 12, for 26 points and 9 rebounds in 29.8 minutes. Austin Reaves added 23 points and 6 assists, and he hit all 10 of his free throws. For Golden State, Stephen Curry scored 23 on 7-of-15 shooting and made all 7 of his free throws. Brandon Williams had 14 points off the bench. Yaxel Lendeborg and Gui Santos each scored 12.
03Where it was won: shooting and the paintThe Lakers shot 46 of 81 (56.8%).
The Lakers shot 46 of 81 (56.8%). The Warriors shot 38 of 92 (41.3%). Golden State took 36 threes and made 8. Los Angeles made 11 of 28. The Lakers also won the paint 66-56 and had more rebounds, 53-46. They had more blocks, 5-2, and more assists, 28-25. They scored 21 fast-break points to the Warriors' 17. Both teams were sloppy. The Lakers turned it over 18 times and the Warriors 15, but the Lakers scored 25 points off turnovers to Golden State's 20. Golden State did win the bench battle, 56-38, though most of that production came after the game was decided.
04What it means for Los AngelesThe Lakers are 2-0 and sit second in the West.
The Lakers are 2-0 and sit second in the West. Kessler's 12-of-12 night showed what the inside game can do when Doncic and Reaves get him the ball. The Lakers shot 24 of 27 from the line. Quentin Grimes gave them 10 points and 4 assists off the bench, and Jake LaRavia added 10 on 4-of-5 shooting. The 6 turnovers from Doncic and 4 from Reaves are the things to clean up, but they did not cost the Lakers here.
05What it means for Golden StateThe Warriors are 0-2 and 14th in the West.
The Warriors are 0-2 and 14th in the West. Curry was minus-22 in 21.2 minutes, and Draymond Green was minus-22 with 2 points, 8 assists and 4 turnovers. Golden State's starters were hurt by the second and third quarters. De'Anthony Melton went 0 for 2 from the field and Green made 1 of 4. Al Horford missed all 3 of his shots, all from three. The Warriors made 8 of 36 from deep and turned the ball over 15 times. They got 56 bench points, with Williams, Gary Payton II and LJ Cryer all scoring, but the lead was already gone.
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