Curry Leads Warriors 123-116 Past Lakers in Playoff Preview/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Stephen Curry scored 37 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 123-116 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in a potential playoff preview. Brandin Podziemski added 28 points with a career-high eight 3-pointers. LeBron James posted 33 points, but the Lakers fell short late.
Curry Leads Warriors Past Lakers in Playoff Preview – Quick Looks
- Stephen Curry scores 37, continues scoring surge after 52-point game Tuesday
- Brandin Podziemski hits 8 threes, finishes with 28 points in breakout performance
- Golden State wins 123-116, first victory over Lakers this season
- LeBron James scores 33, hits 11,000-point milestone with Lakers
- Austin Reaves adds 31 points, nine 3-pointers in losing effort
- Warriors close six-game road trip 4-2, eyeing top-six seed
- Jonathan Kuminga contributes 18 points, 9 rebounds off the bench
- Key late-game threes by Curry and Podziemski seal the win for Warriors
Curry Leads Warriors 123-116 Past Lakers in Playoff Preview
Deep Look
In a matchup that could serve as a playoff preview, Stephen Curry once again delivered a signature performance, dropping 37 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 123-116 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. The win marked the Warriors’ fourth straight and their first against the Lakers this season, ending a three-game skid in the head-to-head series.
Curry, coming off a 52-point explosion in Memphis earlier this week, showed no signs of cooling down. Though he went just 4-of-11 from beyond the arc, his overall offensive efficiency and fourth-quarter composure helped the Warriors hold off a late Lakers rally.
The star of the night alongside Curry was rookie guard Brandin Podziemski, who had a breakout performance with a career-high 28 points. He connected on 8-of-12 from three-point range and played a critical role in Golden State’s momentum-shifting runs. His shooting came at a crucial time, as the Warriors looked to maintain a top-six playoff seed and avoid the play-in tournament.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 33 points and nine assists and reached a milestone in the second quarter by surpassing 11,000 career points with the franchise, becoming the 10th player in Lakers history to do so. Austin Reaves had one of his best performances of the season, hitting nine 3-pointers en route to 31 points. Rui Hachimura added 24, while Luka Doncic had 19 points but missed all six of his three-point attempts.
The Lakers briefly threatened late, cutting the deficit to six after a Doncic basket made it 105-99. But back-to-back threes from Curry and Podziemski helped stretch the lead. James and Reaves countered with their own three-pointers, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
Golden State’s bench also delivered. Jonathan Kuminga came off the bench with 18 points and nine rebounds, helping to sustain offensive pressure and provide key defensive stops. Notably, the Warriors got the win without relying heavily on Jimmy Butler, who scored 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting after a strong outing earlier in the week.
The game’s pivotal moment came late in the fourth. After a Reaves three cut the deficit to 121-116, Doncic fouled Curry, who calmly sank both free throws to secure the win.
Golden State completed its six-game road trip with a 4-2 record, tying their longest road stretch of the season. With just six games left, the Warriors remain locked in a tight battle for playoff seeding. They’ll return home to face the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
The Lakers, now searching for answers after another close loss, will look to bounce back quickly as they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. Injuries and inconsistent shooting continue to hamper their push toward the postseason, and with only a handful of games remaining, every win becomes crucial.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.