Shorthanded GS Warriors blow past Lakers, 117-106
NICK Young, Quinn Cook, Kevon Looney and Zaza Pachulia did all the scoring in an 18-3 run early in the third quarter that propelled the short-handed Golden State Warriors to a 117-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers to complete a season-series sweep Wednesday night in Oakland, California.
Kevin Durant dropped in a game-high 26 points for the Warriors, who were playing without three All-Stars -- Stephen Curry (sprained right ankle), Klay Thompson (fractured right thumb) and Draymond Green (sore right shoulder).
Jerome Randle had a team-high 22 points for the Lakers, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back set, having beaten Denver, 112-103, in an emotional revenge game Tuesday.
The win was the Warriors’ seventh straight over the Lakers, including four in a row this season. Golden State hadn’t swept a season series from its California rival since Chris Webber was a rookie in 1994.
After leading by as many as 10 in the first half, the Warriors found themselves down, 59-58, before Cook ignited the decisive burst with a 3-pointer.
Young, a former Laker, contributed two jumpers and three free throws to the spurt, which opened a 76-64 lead at the 6:24 mark of the third period.
The Lakers got within five on two occasions early in the fourth period, but the Warriors kept them at arm’s length the rest of the way