Following a disappointing overtime loss against Memphis, the Golden State Warriors travel to the Staples Center to take on the resurgent LA Lakers. Join us for lives scores and commentary from 2.30pm AEDT.
With the hype surrounding a possible Kobe Bryant return in the near future, everyone is forgetting the good work the Lakers have been doing over the last week.
Their starting line-up is set, with Jordan Hill flourishing and Steve Blake showing that without Steve Nash it isn’t all doom and gloom (he dished out 16 assists against the Pistons).
Sure they may not be setting the NBA on fire with a Portlandian-style win streak (8 and counting), but they aren’t the shambles everyone predicted (if they were an Eastern Conference team, they would be ranked eighth).
A demolition of Detroit on Monday on the back of a career night from Jordan Hill (24pts, 17reb) and the combined efforts of Steve Blake (16 assists), Jodie Meeks (19pts) and Nick Young (19pts).
What will happen when Kobe returns is anyone’s guess – mine would be it doesn’t start well – but there is something about this team’s energy that makes them watchable.
The Golden State Warriors on the other hand have been one of the darlings of the NBA community, with a great record (8-4) and one of the most exciting line-ups to watch.
The addition of Andre Iguodala to the already-potent offense of the Warriors has added an extra dimension to this team, which is hard to match when it gets going.
With Iggy able to run the floor, this gives Steph Curry the opportunity to be a spot up shooter alongside the deadly Klay Thompson.
Focus all your efforts on the perimeter shooters and this gives space to the offensive talents of David Lee, which can devastate you in short time.
Add in the smart play and passing abilities of Andrew Bogut and this Warriors starting unit can be a nightmare, as they showed in the first game between these two earlier in the season.
In that 125-94 win to the Warriors, the Lakers let Golden State shoot 55% from deep as Klay Thompson went off for 38 points on 15-19 shooting.
With the possibility that Steph Curry misses another game after a nasty incident where Marvin Williams accidently landed on his head on Tuesday, it could be Klay Thompson that gives the Lakers headaches once again.
I am not expecting another blow-out like we saw in the Warriors’ home opener but I don’t see the Lakers being able to match the Warriors in this one.
Prediction: Golden State by nine.
Join us on The Roar for live commentary from 2.30pm AEDT.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Yew go Lakers last leg of my multi! :)
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
FT - Lakers 102 - Warriors 95 The Lakers thoroughly deserved that victory with a full game effort on both ends of the court. The Warriors tied it in the 3rd but then let the Lakers go on a 15-0 run that was the beginning of the end. Gasol finished with 24pts & 10reb on a night where every point he scored he would personally donate $1,000 to the UNICEF relief effort in the Philippines. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you enjoyed the game. -Mark
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
1:46 4Q - Lee gets another basket but the Warriors can't break the double digit hoodoo as Hill answers right back. 98-88.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
2:42 4Q - Lee gets fouled on a drive but Warriors still down 12. Anything can happen but without Curry or Iggy this one looks done.Time out on the floor.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
4:27 4Q - Warriors close to 10 points but Meeks hits a three to put this one out of reach. Lakers 94-81. Lakers shooting 11-22 from downtown.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
6:17 4Q - Warriors play zone but leave Young wide open in the corner for the three. 89-75.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
7:05 4Q - Lee with a nice pocket pass to Bogut and he gets fouled for the and-1 opportunity. He makes it so Warriors making a mini revival. Lakers 86-75.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
8:12 4Q - Green nails a three after Bogut gets an offensive board but Williams answers straight back. Lakers 86-70. The Lakers swarming defense has been the difference in this one. The Warriors really needed Steph Curry.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
8:54 4Q - Green throws it away yet again and Young gets his third and-1 opportunity of the night. Time Out with the Lakers up 82-67. I think this battle is over.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
9:21 4Q - The Warriors have no PG with Iggy out so Klay must take over the ball handling duties. He gets to the line and knocks down two FTs. Lakers still up 80-67.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
11:45 4Q - Moving screen by the Warriors to start the 4th tells the story for them. Williams for the Lakers knocks down a three and the Lakers are on a 15-0 run from the 4:24 mark of the 3rd Q. Lakers 78-63. Iggy will not return with that hamstring injury.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
0:40 3Q - Swaggy P hits a contested three and this one is almost done. Lakers up 75-63 and that's the way it will finish at 3QT. Iggy is in the locker room and that can only mean bad news for the Warriors.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
1:02 3Q - Farmar hits another floater and the Lakers are in control.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
The Bulls go down by 3 after Deng's buzzer beater misses. Portland now on a nine game win streak!
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
1:33 3Q - Farmar hits a floater and the Warriors are back where they started at HT. After getting into the penalty early they have not taken a FT in the last seven minutes of game time. If Iggy is out then this just became a really tough ask for this team.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
2:12 3Q - Young with no time on the shot clock rattles in a three, Lakers up 68-63.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
3:22 3Q - Iggy looks to have done something to his hamstring and is subbed off.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
4:24 3Q - Iggy hits a contested three to tie it up at 63-63 but Gasol gets the Lakers right back in front with a lay-in. 65-63 Lakers
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
5:27 3Q - Despite the double teaming on David Lee, the Lakers still chase Klay off the three point line and he coughs it off. Warriors a bit slow footed here.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
6:56 3Q - Klay nails a three then Barnes gets a steal. Warriors back in this, only down by 1 at 61-60.