Warriors Start Slow But Finish Strong To Rout Lakers 102-83
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) David Lee had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Andrew Bogut grabbed 20 rebounds and the Golden State Warriors shook off a slow start to rout the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 102-83 Saturday night.
Stephen Curry scored 18 points and Klay Thompson added 17 points to help the Warriors pull away with a 26-8 spurt to start the third quarter. Golden State went ahead 83-70 early in the fourth to put the game out of reach.
Pau Gasol sat out with an upper respiratory infection for the Lakers, who already were missing Kobe Bryant (fractured left knee), Steve Nash (nerve root irritation in back), Steve Blake (torn ligament in right elbow) and Jordan Farmar (torn left hamstring).
Nick Young scored 20 points, and Chris Kaman had 17 rebounds and 10 points for the Lakers in a sloppy game by both teams.
The Lakers committed 24 turnovers, while the Warriors had 18. Golden State shot 38.8 percent and Los Angeles shot 32.5 percent.
Even though the Lakers were undermanned, the Warriors had failed to consistently take advantage of opportunities against short-handed teams lately.
Golden State had lost three of its last four games, including Thursday night at home against a San Antonio team playing without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The lone win during that stretch was against New Orleans, which played without injured starters Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans.
The Lakers have been decimated even more by injuries. Los Angeles used its 12th different starting lineup this season: Xavier Henry, Jodie Meeks, Wesley Johnson, Jordan Hill and Kaman.
Gasol was the only player to start the first 26 games. Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni was hoping Gasol would be healthy enough to play Monday at Phoenix.
At this point, the Lakers need anybody they can get. Los Angeles beat Minnesota on Friday night in its first game since Bryant fractured his left knee, but the Warriors - who struggled for long stretches again - were too much to overcome on consecutive nights.
Neither team led by more than six points in a forgettable first half, and both sides hovered just above 30 percent shooting for most of the game.
Thompson hit a pair of 3-pointers, and Bogut finished an alley-oop from Curry to highlight a 26-8 run to begin the third quarter that gave Golden State a 72-50 lead. It was the ninth time in Bogut's career that he had at least 20 rebounds in a game. He had 12 points.
Curry finished with nine assists and six rebounds as the Warriors went ahead 83-60 early in the fourth quarter.
The only drama left had little impact on the final score. Officials called a flagrant-2 foul and ejected Marreese Speights for hitting Young around the neck from behind to prevent the Lakers' reserve from a breakaway dunk. Los Angeles never got closer than 16 points in the final quarter.
NOTES: The Warriors improved to 2-1 against the Lakers this season, with the home team winning each time. ... The Lakers have not lost a season series to the Warriors since 1994-95. ... The teams meet for the final time this season on April 11 in Los Angeles.
Updated December 22, 2013
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