NBA News Wire
Warriors 136, Lakers 115
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
LOS ANGELES — Despite allowing 44 points to Kobe Bryant, the Golden State Warriors pounded the Los Angeles Lakers 136-115 Sunday night at Staples Center.
Guard Stephen Curry scored 30 points and dished out 15 assists in three quarters as the Warriors (8-2) captured their third in a row and dealt the Lakers (1-9) a fourth straight defeat. Curry connected on 10 of 19 shots, including five of nine 3-point attempts.
Golden State reserve center Marreese Speights finished with a season-high 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Guard Klay Thompson had 18 points, center Andrew Bogut scored 15 and pulled down 10 rebounds, and forward Harrison Barnes added 14 points.
Bryant converted 15 of 34 attempts but missed nine of 12 3-point tries. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter. Lakers center Jordan Hill scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
The Warriors dominated early on and led by as much as 19 in the first quarter. They coasted to a 74-55 halftime lead as four players reached double figures. Speights led the way with 16 points, while Bogut had 15, Curry 13 and Thompson 12. Speights and Bogut combined to make 12 of 16 field goals before the break.
The Warriors stretched the lead 115-79 after three quarters.
Golden State hit 53.1 percent of its field goals compared to only 33.9 percent for the Los Angeles in the first half. The Warriors also converted seven of 15 from behind the 3-point arc in the half to three of 10 for the Lakers.
Overall, the Warriors shot 53.5 percent to 39.4 for the Lakers. Golden State finished 14 of 28 on 3-pointers, while Los Angeles managed three of 16.
Golden State prevailed without forward David Lee, who missed the game due to a strained left hamstring.
The Lakers lost forward Ryan Kelly in the second quarter after he re-injured his strained right hamstring.
NOTES: Golden State coach Steve Kerr said playing the Lakers was a “100 percent total trap game” since the Warriors were coming off a win Saturday at home over the Charlotte Hornets. “We’ve got to be ready,” Kerr said. “We’re on a back-to-back and they’re going to come out and play. If we don’t bring it, it’s our fault.” … Injured Los Angeles G/F Nick Young is expected to return Tuesday in Atlanta against the Hawks. Los Angeles then visits the Houston Rockets on Wednesday and the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. … The Lakers celebrated the 80th birthday of Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor with a halftime tribute. Fans also received replica Baylor jerseys. … Golden State will have four days off before hosting the Utah Jazz on Friday.
