The final score says it all as Golden State loses to the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Lakers LeBron James top all the games scorer with 19 points on Sun Feb 28, 2021 (@ Warriors image) 

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Los Angeles Lakers pounded the Warriors 117-91 Sunday night at the Staples Center in LA. The Warriors led for the first 12 seconds of the game. Leading 4-3, the Lakers went on an 11-0 run to go ahead 15-3.

The Laker offense was clicking on all cylinders while their defense stopped the Warrior offense cold. LA continued to put points on the board while the Warrior offense floundered. The Lakers had their highest-scoring first quarter of the year with 41 points. The Warriors scored 21 to trail by 20 after the first 12 minutes. 

The Lakers continued to punish the Warriors in the second quarter. They finished the first half with a season-high 73 points. They increased their lead to 29 points, 73-44. The game was over for all intents and purposes, even with 24 minutes left to play.

To make matters worse, The Warriors start forward, Draymond Green, sprained his ankle and had to leave the game. He did not return, and it is not known how severe the injury is. 

The Warriors could not cut into the deficit in the third quarter. LA led by 30, 99-69 after three periods of play. Both teams pulled their starters, and the reserves finished the game. The Lakers won 117-91.

Game Notes and Stats: With the loss, the Warriors are now 19-16 for the year. The Lakers have the second-best record, 24-11, in the Western Conference.

The Warriors had three players in double figures. The Lakers held Stephen Curry to 16 points. Curry made two threes to break the Warrior team record for consecutive games with a three. He shared the record with Klay Thompson with 94.

Eric Paschall led the Warriors with 18 points. Most of his points came in the fourth quarter when the Laker bench players were on the floor. Kelly Oubre, Jr. had 14. Andrew Wiggins was held to three points. The Warriors shot 40.7% from the floor.

They made eight threes in 34 tries. They shot 19 free throws and made thirteen. The Lakers had 38 free throws and connected on 26. The Lakers outrebounded the Warriors 70-44. The Lakers stole the ball 14 times. They blocked six Warrior shots and forced 20 Warrior turnovers. 

LeBron James paced the Laker attacked with 19 points in 24 minutes of playing time. Five other Lakers were in double figures. Marjieff Morris had 13, Dennis Schroder 19, Anthony Caruso 13, Taken Horton-Cooper 11, and Kyle Kuzma had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Former Warrior, Damion Jones, signed a ten-day contract with LA, scored eight points. He played well and had the Warriors’ front office wondering why they let him go.

The Warriors have to turn the page and forget Sunday night’s debacle and get ready to face the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday night. The game starts at 7 pm.