Warriors top Lakers in Curry’s return 128-121
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after a 3-pointer shot against Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)Ashley Landis/Associated Press
2024.03.16 – Warriors guard Stephen Curry scored 31 points in his return to Golden State’s lineup, Klay Thompson added 26 off the bench and the Dubs top the Los Angeles Lakers 128-121 on Saturday night in a pivotal Western Conference match-up.
Curry belatedly celebrated his birthday by returning to the Golden State lineup leading the Warriors to a much-needed victory. He turned 36 on Thursday, and had missed the last three games with a sprained right ankle.
“Steph is Steph. He’s just amazing,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He got off to a slow start, but he never worries and we never worry. What he does is open the floor for everyone else.”
The Warriors inched ahead of the Lakers by a percentage point into ninth place in the West after winning a game that dragged to the finish because of a pair of replay reviews — one that overturned an apparent 3-pointer by LeBron James — then a malfunctioning clock.
James had 40 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. D’Angelo Russell added 23 points and 13 assists for the Lakers, who have dropped their last two.
If the season ended Saturday, the Warriors would be hosting the Lakers in the play-in tournament, with the loser eliminated. But, there is 16 games to play till the end of the season and a 2-1 lead in the season series versus Lakers. Both teams are 3 1/2 games behind Phoenix for sixth place and escaping the play-in games, but time is running out.
2024.03.16 – Warriors vs. Lakers (NBA Video highlights)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) left, smiles with Los Angeles Lakers guard LeBron James (23) during the ending of the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)Ashley Landis/Associated Press
2024.03.16 – Warriors vs. Lakers (NBA Video highlights)
2024.03.16 – Warriors vs. Lakers (NBA Video highlights)
“I was excited just to be back. You understand the ramifications down the stretch. Every game, especially against teams jumbled right there in the play-in, matters,” said Curry, who was 12 of 24 from the field along with six rebounds and five assists in 31 minutes.
Thompson added 26 off the bench and Jonathan Kuminga 23 as the Warriors dominated play inside and regularly drove to the rim after Lakers All-Star center Anthony Davis did not play the final three periods after he was poked in the eye late in the first quarter.
Golden State took advantage of Davis’ injury as it dominated inside. The Warriors out-rebounded the Lakers by six and had a 62-54 advantage in points in the paint.
Draymond Green was held to six points, but had 13 assists and 12 rebounds after he missed the last game due to back soreness.
2024.03.16 – Warriors vs. Lakers (NBC Sports Post Game)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) right, dribbles pass Los Angeles Lakers guard LeBron James (23) during the ending of the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)Ashley Landis/Associated Press
2024.03.16 – Warriors vs. Lakers (NBC Sports Post Game)
2024.03.16 – Warriors vs. Lakers (NBC Sports Post Game)
Curry had six points during a 10-2 third-quarter run that gave the Warriors a 91-79 lead. Neither team had more than a seven-point lead until that point.
“They made some adjustments at halftime. In the third quarter we came out and missed some really good shots after getting some good looks. They played better than we did in the third,” James said.
Thompson had 21 points in the first half as the Warriors held a 67-66 lead at halftime. It was the second time this season Thompson has scored at least 20 in the first half.
James, who was 6 of 16 from the field in Wednesday night’s loss at Sacramento, was 15 of 23 against the Warriors. He hit his first six shots, including three 3-pointers.
A 3-pointer by Thompson with 7:41 remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Warriors a 113-101 advantage, before the Lakers started to slowly work their way back.
James appeared to hit a 3-pointer with 2:07 remaining to get the Lakers within four, but during a stoppage in play 17 seconds later, the replay center determined James’ foot was out of bounds and took the basket away.
2024.03.16 – Warriors vs. Lakers (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) right, shoots against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)Ashley Landis/Associated Press
2024.03.16 – Warriors vs. Lakers (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
2024.03.16 – Warriors vs. Lakers (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
The reversal ended any momentum for the Lakers. The Warriors put away the game when Curry stole the ball from James and passed it to Kuminga for a breakaway dunk to make it 126-117.
“We dig back into it, and make a big shot. Guys are scrambling, competing and then boom, everything just stops. So it just took the rhythm out of the game,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said.
STARS ENJOY THE SHOW
Novak Djokovic, Shannon Sharpe, Albert Pujols, Bad Bunny, Kim Kardashian, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez sat court-side Saturday to watch Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors play LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
BIZARRE FINISH
“Bizarre,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr after the final two minutes were stalled by replay review and shot-clock malfunctions.
“I felt bad for the fans. It was a great game. All of a sudden — the last two minutes — everyone is kind of looking at each other wondering what to do.”
Curry knew what to do when the star-studded crowd decrescendo-ed and crunch-time finally was allowed to resume: swipe the basketball from James and ignite a secondary break that Kuminga would finish with authority. His alley-oop dunk from Green sealed a crucial 128-121 win for the Warriors.
“Never seen anything like that in my 15 years,” said Curry, in his return from a sprained right ankle.
The ending marred the 50th meeting between Curry and James and their all-time greatness, on display against one another again in a match-up pegged to prime time national television.
UP NEXT
Warriors: Host the New York Knicks on Monday. (GSW ROSTER)
Lakers: Host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
Related – See : Warriors knock off Lakers after All-Star break
Related – See below: 2022 Warriors NBA Finals video highlights
Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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2022 Warriors NBA Finals video highlights