By JOE REEDY AP Sports activities Author
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Stephen Curry celebrated his birthday late by returning to the Golden State lineup and main the Warriors to a much-needed victory.
Curry, who turned 36 on Thursday, scored 31 factors after lacking the previous three video games with a sprained proper foot because the Warriors beat the Los Angeles Lakers 128-121 on Saturday night time in a key Western Convention matchup.
“Steph is Steph. He is simply superb,” coach Steve Kerr stated. “He obtained off to a gradual begin, however he is by no means apprehensive and we have by no means been apprehensive. What he does is open the ground for everybody.
The Warriors moved one share level forward of the Lakers for ninth within the West after profitable a recreation that was tied on the finish due to a pair of replay opinions — one which overturned an obvious 3-pointer by LeBron James — then a The decaying hour.
James had 40 factors, 9 assists and eight rebounds. D’Angelo Russell added 23 factors and 13 assists for the Lakers, who’ve dropped their final two.
If the season ends on Saturday, the Warriors will host the Lakers within the playoffs, with the losers ending. Each groups are 3 1/2 video games behind sixth-place Phoenix and escaping the playoffs, however time is operating out.
“I used to be simply excited to come back again. You perceive the affect that comes down. Each recreation, particularly towards groups which can be tied there, matter,” stated Curry, who was 12 of 24 from the sphere, 31. Together with six rebounds and 5 assists within the minutes.
Klay Thompson added 26 off the bench and Jonathan Kamanga 23 because the Warriors dominated the sport and drove to the rim usually after Lakers All-Star heart Anthony Davis missed the ultimate three durations after he was poked within the eye late within the first quarter. . .
Golden State took benefit of Davis’ harm as they dominated inside. The Warriors outscored the Lakers by six and held a 62-54 benefit in factors within the paint.
Draymond Inexperienced was held to 6 factors, however he had 13 assists and 12 rebounds when he missed the final recreation with again ache.
Curry had six factors throughout a 10-2 third quarter run that gave the Warriors a 91-79 lead. No staff had a lead of greater than seven factors to that time.
“They made some changes at half-time. Within the third quarter we got here out and missed some actually good pictures after getting some good possessions. They performed higher than us within the third,” James stated.
Thompson had 21 factors within the first half because the Warriors led 67-66 at halftime. It was the second time this season that Thompson scored at the very least 20 runs within the first half.
James, who was 6 of 16 from the sphere in Wednesday night time’s loss at Sacramento, was 15 of 23 towards the Warriors. He hit his first six pictures, together with three 3-pointers.
A 3-pointer by Thompson with 7:41 remaining within the fourth quarter gave the Warriors a 113-101 benefit, earlier than the Lakers slowly started to claw their method again.
James hit a 3-pointer with 2:07 remaining to get the Lakers inside 4, however 17 seconds later throughout a stoppage within the recreation, the replay heart decided that James’ foot was out of bounds and took away the basket.
The turnover killed any momentum for the Lakers. The Warriors put the sport away when Curry stole the ball from James and handed to Kamanga for a layup to make it 126-117.
“We dug again in, and made an enormous shot. Guys are operating, competing after which increase, every little thing simply stops. So it simply took the rhythm out of the sport,” Lakers coach Darwin Hamm stated. .