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Crypto.com Arena hosted a heavily anticipated showdown between the Golden State Warriors and LA Lakers. With likely home-court advantage at stake if these two teams meet in the play-in tournament, both marquee franchises will be going all-out for a win. A victory by the Dubs will also clinch them the season series against the Lakers 3-1.
The visitors quickly took advantage of Anthony Davis' absence in the middle by repeatedly gashing LA's inside defense. Almost every time the defense collapse, Golden State drivers would often kick it out in the perimeter for wide-open shots. The Dubs promptly grabbed the driver's seat 38-29 after 12 minutes passed.
The Bay Area team continued the same strategy in the second quarter with mixed success as the Lakers defended better. Still, the damage had been done as the Dubs shot 15-for-22 from deep with sets based on the aforementioned strategy.
Klay Thompson sustained his recent form, dropping 15 first-half points while Steph Curry added 11. Draymond Green fluorished minus Davis' looming defensive presence with 15 points and five assists.
LeBron James carried the hosts' fight without AD. With able backing from D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, who combined for 24 points, LA trailed 71-60 at the break.
The Golden State Warriors' hot shooting from deep cooled off a bit to start the second half. They still had a couple of wide-open shots but couldn't make a few of them go in. LA's defense on Steph Curry and Klay Thompson has been decent, limiting them from doing too much damage.
LeBron James had seven points in the said period as the LA Lakers kept the visitors from pulling away. After three-quarters of play, the Dubs held a 106-89 lead.
"King James" desperately tried to rally his troops by pouring in 12 points in the final frame. The Warriors just couldn't be denied as they regained their stroke from deep while their defense was smothering. Almost every player on the Dubs made timely plays on both ends of the floor to keep the hosts at arm's length.
The backbreaking play happened with a little over three minutes remaining. LeBron James drove to the basket before dropping the ball to Rui Hachimura for what looked like a wide-open dunk. Instead, Gary Payton II came out of nowhere to swat the attempt.
The Golden State Warriors pushed the ball to the other side where Klay Thompson dropped another trifecta. Thompson's triple made it 127-110 and sent some of the home fans out of the arena.
The visitors eventually walked away with a 134-120 win against the LA Lakers.
Golden State Warriors vs LA Lakers game player stats and box scores
Golden State Warriors game player stats
LA Lakers game player stats
Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, LeBron James and Austin Reaves 3-pointers tonight
The "Splash Bros." combined to hit 6-for-9 from deep in the first half against the Lakers.
Meanwhile, Austin Reaves was red-hot from that area during the same stretch, hitting four out of six attempts. "King James" settled for a 1-for-3 line in the first half from that range.
Steph Curry epitomized the Golden State Warriors' fiery-hot shooting from deep, sinking all six of his attempts. Klay Thompson was more aggressive, launching 10 and making half of them to end the night.
LeBron James refused to hoist another shot from long-range distance and settled with the line he had in the first half. Austin Reaves finished 4-for-7 on Tuesday night for the LA Lakers.
