October 13, (THEWILL) – The Golden State Warriors moved to 4-0 in preseason matchups to demonstrate their contender-quality with a 111-99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Tuesday.
The Warriors were headed by Jordan Poole and Damian Lee, and are seeking a return to the Western Conference’s upper echelon this season.
Despite the fact that the Big Three of LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis made their debut together, the Lakers fell to 0-5 in preseason play.
While it will be significantly more crucial for all three to be on the same page throughout the regular season and playoffs, James (17 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals) had an immediate impact.
The 36-year-old, who is entering his 19th season, looked sparingly in the first half, grabbing boards, sprinting down the floor in transition, spinning into the lane, and finishing through traffic. It was evident that James was the best player on the floor when he was on the court for extended periods of time.
Davis started at centre and was essentially unstoppable as a matchup problem, so it was not a one-man show. He was fed many times by Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrook, including an alley-oop, and he stretched his game beyond the blocks against Golden State’s overmatched frontcourt.
Westbrook (10 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists) was his usual triple-double threat, crashing the glass, going out in breakaway, and assisting his excellent teammates. With so many senior playmakers who can flash into space around him, it is easy to imagine what kind of impact he will have this season.
Even though the Lakers got double-digit scoring from renowned names like James, Davis, Westbrook, and Carmelo Anthony, it was worth remembering that the Warriors competed without their stars.
On the offensive end, Lee (16 points and nine rebounds), Poole (18 points), and Andrew Wiggins were all active, while Otto Porter Jr. and Gary Payton II came off the bench to provide a spark. Poole scored 14 points in the third quarter alone, giving the visitors a lead heading into the fourth quarter thanks to some timely outside shooting from Porter.
The Lakers’ head coach Frank Vogel’s choice not to play his stars in crunch time in a closely contested game was the clearest indication that this was the preseason.
With a jumper, and-1 and assist in the middle of the fourth, Avery Bradley pushed a one-point advantage to eight points, paving the stage for a Golden State triumph. His team did not look back after that and went on to take another preseason win.
Only one preseason game remains for both teams. On Thursday, the Lakers will face the Sacramento Kings, while the Warriors will face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
