The Los Angeles Lakers brought the energy tonight against the Golden State Warriors.
The game went back and fourth throughout most of the first half, but then the Lakers bench ignited a run.
Los Angeles went on an 8-2 run to end the first half, trying to put the game away early. The score was 55-46, and L.A. shot 55% from the field while holding the Warriors to 41%.
Playing their second consecutive game without Stephen Curry, the Warriors offense suffered. It was harder for them to create without their starting point guard to spread the floor and create off double teams.
The Warriors' back up point guard, Toney Douglas, also didn't play tonight due to injury.
Pau Gasol put the team on his back and went 8-12 in the first two quarters. He also partnered with UNICEF and pledged to donate $1,000 for every point he scored in tonight's game. Gasol has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2003 and the money is for the relief effort in the Philippines.
The Warriors came out of the locker room to start the second half with intensity. They tied it up 63-63 with five minutes to go in the third. Then another key Warrior went down.
Andre Iguodola strained his hamstring and did not return for the rest of the game.
For L.A., Nick Young has been impressive off the bench, averaging over 13 points per game. He can create his own shot, something L.A. desperately needs while Kobe is injured. Young was born and raised in West L.A. and is happy at home - and it's certainly showing in his play.
Tonight was no different.
Young poured in 21 points and went 3-for-7 from deep. He also played good defense tonight and ignited two fast break scores off of his two steals.
Young and Jordan Farmar led the Laker bench with a combined 35 points, including this impressive fast break alley-oop. L.A.'s bench outscored Golden State’s 44-17.
Farmer put up 14 points and 8 assists and has been a perfectly fine back up for Steve Blake, who also put up impressive numbers - 14 points, 5 assists and 2 steals.
Midway through the fourth, Golden State was still hanging around, trailing by 11. They went into a zone to bring more help on Gasol, but the Lakers took advantage of the open space at three point line.
L.A. shot an impressive 11-for-24 from deep. Blake and Sean Williams were particularly hot, combining for 5-of-10. Both teams shot well from three point range at 45.8% and 40.9% for L.A. and Golden State, respectively.
Jordan Hill also played well, pouring in 10 points and 9 rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting.
But Pau Gasol was the star tonight.
He played efficiently and aggressively, finding cutters from the high post just like his brother does in Memphis. He ended up with 24 points and 10 rebounds – good enough for $24,000 for relief in the Philippines. He went 11-for-19 from the field with two steals and a block.
The Lakers defense did a good job of keeping Klay Thompson from raining it down from deep. He went 4-for-10 from three and just 6-for-20 from the field.
That's 30% shooting from a shooting guard known for his shooting.
The score was 96-84 with two minutes left and LA was able to maintain their distance.
A Harrison Barnes three brought G.S. to within nine with a minute left, but it was too late.
Finishing at 102-95, the Lakers pulled away with the win. The Warriors are only 3-36 in their last 39 games against the Lakers in the Staples Center.
The Lakers brought the energy tonight and controlled the pace. Golden State learned how hard it is to play without their starting point guard and they looked out of sync.
Thompson and David Lee were unable to get their offense flowing without Curry. Lee shot 7-for-17 and missed plenty of easy buckets.
The Lakers improved their record to 6-7 and are currently on a two game winning streak.
For their next game, they square off against Sacramento at home on Sunday.
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