BY LEO BATO LUNGAY – SPORTS ON AIR USA CONTRIBUTOR
LOS ANGELES – As they continue to fight for a play-in spot in the post-season the Golden State Warriors showed the rest of the West why they will always have a puncher’s chance.
With Klay Thompson leading the way, the Warriors sank 26-of-41 threes to bury the Los Angeles Lakers, 134-120, at the Crypto.Com Arena on Tuesday night.
“We made a million 3s. The ball went was going in,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
And the Lakers, who shot just 12-of-35 from deep, simply couldn’t cope, especially on a night when Anthony Davis didn’t play due to a headache.
Thompson finished with 27 points while Steph Curry added 23. Draymond Green accounted for 15 points, six rebounds and 10 assists. Andrew Wiggins chipped in 17 markers.
Golden State’s 26 threes went down in the history books as the most 3s a Lakers team ever surrendered to an opponent.
It was a huge win for the Warriors who have won eight of their last nine contests to improve to 44-35 and creep to within a half-game behind the Lakers. Most importantly, should both teams end up with the same record at the end of the regular season, the Warriors now own the tie-breaker.
The spectacular road triump gave the Warriors something to cheer about following what has been an up-and-down season with issues revolving on Green’s suspension and Thompson’s playing time.
Green said the once dynastic Warriors are “very confident” as the playoffs near.
Without his sidekick AD, LeBron James topped the Lakers with 33 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. Austin Reaves added 22 points and Rui Hachimura had 20.
James lamented the fact that Davis was on the sielines.
“It’s hard for us to make up, especially having a guy like AD not playing. It’s almost pretty much impossible to make up for what he provides for our ballclub, both offensively and defensively.”
Without their All-Star center, the Lakers are 2-4 this season.
