Another Team Effort, Another Win

Tuning up for Thursday’s match-up against the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers continued their winning ways with a 104-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. The Lakers had just enough in the second half to put the visiting Warriors away after they had managed to creep back into the contest after overcoming a 14-point 2nd quarter deficit. Golden State trailed at the break 54-51 after outscoring the Lakers with a 14-3 run in the second period. Andrew Bynum (21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) overpowered the smaller frontline of the Warriors early, and even though Kobe Bryant sat out his fourth consecutive game with a sore left ankle, the Lakers had more than enough firepower to make up for his scoring punch. Shannon Brown (career-high 27 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals), who started again in place of Bryant, attacked the basket with soaring efficiency that he lacked in his All-Star slam-dunk competition. And Lamar Odom (9 points, 18 rebounds, 2 assists) played his typical all-around game as the Lakers improved to 42-13 on the season.

Golden State was led in scoring by the red-hot Anthony Morrow (23 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals) and CJ Watson (20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals) off the bench. Rookie Stephen Curry chipped in 11 points to go along with his 10 rebounds and 8 assists. The Lakers were not particularly sharp, committing 19 turnovers on their way to the sloppy win. But the depth of the Lakers proved to be too much for the physically challenged Warriors who were again without leading scorer Monta Ellis. Pau Gasol (14 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocked shots) had difficulty finding the range early on, but he found his teammates often enough for uncontested baskets to help propel the win. Ron Artest (15 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals) and Derek Fisher (11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists) rounded out the box scores as all starters scored in double figures.

The Warriors battled back in the 4th period by forcing the Lakers into hurried shot selection by accelerating the pace of the game. And as the Lakers obliged Golden State’s frenzied game plan, the Warriors were able to chip away at the lead drawing to within 87-84 with just over six minutes to play. Struggles at the free throw line (22-31 for 71%) prevented the Lakers from putting the game away as the Warriors sensed an opportunity to steal one on the Lakers home court. The two teams traded baskets down the stretch as Phil Jackson searched for a group that could maintain some sort of momentum. Artest, playing his brand of tough defense, was able to unnerve Corey Maggette (17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 turnovers) into three consecutive turnovers in the deciding minutes of the game. Gasol’s basket down low in the paint gave the Lakers a 92-89 advantage as Golden State continued to fire away from deep. His four consecutive free throws followed by Brown’s four straight, put the game out of reach as the Lakers were finally able to exhale a much needed sigh of relief.