With Luka Doncic sidelined, Lakers top Stephen Curry-less Warriors
LeBron James scored 20 points with 10 assists and Rui Hachimura added 18 points as the Los Angeles Lakers overcame the absence of Luka Doncic to earn a 105-99 victory over the visiting Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
Austin Reaves scored 16 points with eight assists off the bench, Marcus Smart had 15 points, and Jarred Vanderbilt added 13 points with eight rebounds as the Lakers won their third consecutive game. Doncic (hamstring) was out after departing early against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.
Luke Kennard scored 10 points and made two 3-pointers in his Los Angeles debut after he was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. The Lakers were also without Deandre Ayton (knee), while Hachimura started for the first time in his last 14 games.
Moses Moody scored 25 points and Gui Santos added 15 for the Warriors, who were without Stephen Curry (knee) for the third consecutive game. Kristaps Porzingis, who was acquired at the trade deadline, was out for Achilles injury management.
Pat Spencer and Brandin Podziemski each scored 14 points and Gary Payton II added 13 for Golden State, which lost for the third time in four games. Spencer was transferred from a two-way contract to a full NBA contract earlier Saturday.
Los Angeles shot 50.7% from the floor and 40.7% from 3-point range, while holding the Warriors to 27.5% from distance.
The Lakers took an 86-77 lead with 9:25 remaining after a 3-pointer from Hachimura. The Warriors answered with a 9-1 run to pull within 87-86 with 7:27 left after a 3-pointer from Santos.
A Kennard 3-pointer sparked a 7-0 run that gave Los Angeles a 96-88 lead with 4:44 left and the Lakers closed it out from there.
The Warriors took a 42-41 lead into halftime, but Draymond Green received a technical foul after the buzzer and Reaves made the technical free throw before the start of the third quarter to tie the score 42-all.
The Lakers shot 42.9% from the floor in the first half and 38.5% from 3-point range. The Warriors were 37.0% and 18.5%, respectively.