In Los Angeles The Los Angeles Lakers may finally have a supporting cast to help them challenge for the playoffs with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Malik Beasley led eight players in double digits with 25 points as the revamped Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 124-111 on Thursday night after their All-Star break.
Los Angeles (28-32) is currently in 13th place in the Western Conference but has won three of its last four games. They are missing out on a place in the play-in competition by 1 1/2 games.
In his four starts for the Lakers, Beasley, who was acquired from Utah as part of a three-team deal at the deadline, has two games with 20 or more points.
We’re deep, and I believe that’s the statement we want to make, Beasley said, adding that LeBron and AD didn’t get going as much as they wanted tonight. “Any athlete could do it on any given night,”
On a night when the Lakers shot a season-best 53.3% from beyond the line (16 of 30) and pulled down a season-high 58 rebounds, Beasley made seven 3-pointers.
For Davis and James, who each saw less than 30 minutes of play, it was a quiet night.
James had 13 points, nine boards, and eight assists despite suffering a hand injury during the All-Star game on Sunday night. James, however, only made 5 of 20 shots from the floor, making it just the sixth time in his career that he has attempted at least 20 goals and shot 25% or worse.
Davis, who finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, said, “We’re still figuring things out on the run.” “Overall, we really looked strong in the last two games. I believe we have a complete squad with which to contend.
Off the bench, Austin Reeves scored 17 points, including 13 in the third frame. A season-high 68 points, including five in double digits, came from the Lakers’ bench.
“Overall excellent team victory. Everyone contributed, everyone had distinct moments, and the players maintained their aggressiveness, according to Lakers coach Darvin Ham. “I’m very happy with what we’ve accomplished” (since the trade deadline). Right now, it’s paying off, so we just need to keep getting to know one another better and better.
Ty Jerome added 20 points, and Klay Thompson scored 22 to lead Golden State. The Western Conference’s ninth-place team is the reigning NBA champs, who have a record of 29–30.
In this season without All-Star Stephen Curry, the Warriors are 9-12. Since Curry sustained a left leg injury on February 4 against Dallas, they have lost four of their last six games.
Coach Steve Kerr said, “We were fouling, had some fragmented offensive opportunities, some turnovers, and some difficult shots that were really shot/turnovers. We had opportunities to tie the game up during several crucial periods but failed to do so.
Early in the third quarter, Thompson’s shot gave Golden State a 59-58 lead before the Lakers went on a 21-7 run.
Before the Lakers again opened it up with a 26-6 run, the Warriors countered by pulling within eight.
»LeBron James teammates helped him through a though win against The Warriors«