ANSWER LAKERS’ WAKEUP CALL
Golden State wins 11th in a row, but nearly squanders early 23-point lead
OAKLAND >> This time, it appeared the Warriors would only need three quarters instead of overtime to establish their superiority over the Los Angeles Lakers. Then, the Warriors learned a harsh lesson that work ethic can overcome even talent disparity and inexperience.
Golden State still walked away with a 113-106 victory over the Lakers on Friday at Oracle Arena to cement its 11th consecutive win. But just like the two previous matchups that required overtime, the Warriors (26-6) did not escape easily against the Lakers (11-19).
After leading by as many as 23 points in the third quarter, the Warriors allowed the Lakers to open the fourth quarter on a 14-4 run that cemented their first lead of the game, a 89-88 advantage with 7:41 remaining. The Warriors also committed 10 of their 15 turnovers in the final period.
“The whole team relaxed,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said. “Once we relaxed, they got going. It’s the NBA. Once you let a team get going, it was a little rough.”
Just like in their previous
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two wins over the Lakers, the Warriors then brought something that no amount of hustle could overcome.
“We’re just more experienced than them,” said Warriors forward Kevin Durant, who had 33 points on 9-of-20 shooting, seven rebounds and seven assists. “We know how to play and what plays to run. They’re a new team.”
Meanwhile, the Warriors have won two of their past three titles. And they showcased their supremacy in different ways.
After Lakers guard Lonzo Ball scored a layup that sliced the Warriors’ lead to 99-97 with 3:56 remaining, the Warriors went on a 6-0 run while holding the Lakers scoreless for nearly two minutes.
Warriors rookie forward Jordan Bell posted a career-high 20 points. Green added 13 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists after nursing a sore right shoulder in the past few weeks.
Warriors forward Andre Iguodala returned after missing a practice this week with the flu.
“I don’t think we win that game without Andre and Draymond and number of players we have available,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
• Stephen Curry, who is recovering from a sprained right ankle, will very likely not play against Cleveland on Christmas.
So, what percent is not very not likely?
“99.99 percent that he’s out,” Kerr said before Friday’s game.
Curry, who sustained the injury in a game against New Orleans on Dec. 4, is set to be reevaluated Tuesday. Him returning before then is in the realm of — well, not happening. The team hasn’t even discussed it.
“I would be shocked,”
Kerr said.
In fact, Kerr went a step further and said that even if Curry said he was healed, he’d still probably hold him out.
“In my mind, even if he came in and said, ‘I feel great,’ it would be irresponsible to play him,” Kerr said. “As much as everybody wants to see him, as much as I want to see him on the floor, we’ve got to be smart with this.”
• Houston Rockets general Darryl Morey admitted he was “obsessed” dethroning the Warriors on Thursday. Kerr, however, didn’t reciprocate those feeling Friday night.
“I don’t wake up in the morning and think about them,” Kerr said. “I think about what I’m going to have for breakfast. I also think about lunch, what we’re going have to do at practice, what movie my wife and I are going to watch that night.”
Kerr’s comments were in response to Morey’s comments on the Ryen Russilo Show on Thursday.
“It’s the only thing we think about,” Morey said, “I think I’m not supposed to say that.”
• Green had a very blunt assessment of his two-week stretch on the injured list Friday afternoon.
“Boring,” Green said following the team’s shootaround.
After injuring his shoulder in a Dec. 4 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Green pushed to play two nights later against Charlotte Hornets but was prevented by Kerr. Green then returned to action in a Dec. 8 win over the Detroit Pistons, re-aggravating the injury.
“I tried to play and Steve wouldn’t let me,” Green said. “I was ‘ah, I think I can play’ and Steve’s like ‘Nah.”
The scenario caused Green, who admitted experiencing a limited range of motion during the stretch, to see the bigger picture in his rehab.
“It’s kind of a spot where you have to grow up,” Green said. “Like you want to push through it, but just trying to understand the big picture.”
The scenario caused Green, who admitted experiencing a limited range of motion during the stretch, to see the bigger picture in his rehab.
“It’s kind of a spot where you have to grow up,” Green said. “Like you want to push through it, but just trying to understand the big picture.”