2019.01.21 (#Warriors vs. #Lakers) Full Highlights See video & blog below
2019.01.21 (#Warriors vs. #Lakers) Full Highlights See video & blog below
Thompson’s New NBA Record! Warriors blast Lakers
Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket for a layup in front of JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Staples Center on January 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
2019.01.21 – Klay Thompson set a new NBA record by making his first 10 attempts from 3-point range, scoring 44 points, finishing 10 of 11 from beyond the arc in only 27 minutes. The Golden State Warriors blast the Los Angeles Lakers 130-111 to match a season high eighth consecutive victory.
Kevin Durant added 20 points and Stephen Curry had 11 points and 12 assists, going 2 of 10 from 3-point range for Golden State.
Emblematic of his quiet offensive night, Curry came dribbling in alone for a fast-break dunk, but slipped and fell, drawing gasps from the crowd. He scrambled to his feet, got the ball back and put up an air ball.
Ivica Zubac led Los Angeles with 18 points. Brandon Ingram added 17 and Kyle Kuzma had 16.
The Lakers were without their primary ball-handlers and playmakers in LeBron James, Lonzo Ball and Rajon Rondo. They fell to 5-9 without James, whose left groin strain has forced him out for the longest stretch of his 16-year career.
Coming off a split in two straight overtime games, the Lakers kept it close in the first half, trailing 65-55 at the break.
In the third quarter alone, Thompson nearly outscored the Lakers. While Thompson had 23 third-quarter points on 8-of-9 shooting and 7-of-8 from 3, the Lakers had 25 points while only shooting a 8-of-20 clip and missing all five of their 3’s.
That marked Thompson’s 13th career 40-point game, the fifth time he made at least 10 3’s in a game and the 10th career 20-point quarter. The Warriors went on to outscore the Lakers 45-25 to lead 110-80 going into the fourth.
The Warriors (33-14) cemented their eighth consecutive win over a Lakers team (25-23) that did not have LeBron James (strained left groin), Rajon Rondo (surgically repaired right ring finger) and Lonzo Ball (sprained left ankle).
Thompson’s hot shooting helped the Warriors overcome poor shooting nights from Stephen Curry (11 points on 3-of-12 shooting, 2-of-10 from 3), DeMarcus Cousins (eight points on 2-of-9 clip) and Draymond Green (five points on 1-of-4 shooting).
In his second game since nursing a nearly year-long left Achilles tendon injury, Cousins compensated for his poor shooting and foul trouble (four) with nine rebounds and five assists in 21 minutes. Cousins had 14 points, six rebounds and six fouls in 15 minutes in his Warriors debut against the Clippers on Friday.
Golden State’s sharpshooting silenced the crowd and allowed the Warriors to sit four of their five starters in the fourth, leaving DeMarcus Cousins in for a bit until he also went to the bench.
The Warriors have made 141 3-pointers to 93 for opponents during their eight-game winning streak.
TIP-INS
Warriors: All 12 players scored. … Their other eight-game winning streak this season was Oct. 22 to Nov. 5. … They evened the season series 1-1, having lost 127-101 on Christmas.
Lakers: Coach Luke Walton hopes James is able to return this week when the Lakers have five straight games at Staples Center. … Ball is out four to six weeks with a left ankle sprain. … Rondo (right ring finger surgery) has played in contact practices but is still favoring his injured hand. … Josh Hart had six points, one assist and four fouls starting in place of Ball.
UP NEXT
Warriors: At Washington on Thursday in the third of a four-game trip.
Lakers: Host Minnesota on Thursday.
Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Golden State Warriors, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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