Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is in disagreement with the official in the first half against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center San Francisco on Sat Jan 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Golden State Warriors (19-24) lost a second one-point game in a row to the Los Angeles Lakers (24-23)145-144. The Lakers had to go two overtimes to get the win but it was Los Angeles who finished this game.

Game recap:The Lakers won the first quarter 33-30 as well as the second quarter leading at the half 68-63. Los Angeles won the second quarter 35-33. This game had been a close one through both quarters. The Warriors had hit eight three’s in the first half.

Golden State came out fast in the third quarter and really took the Lakers to task. After trailing by five points at the half, the Warriors built a 88-73 lead mid-way through the quarter. 

They had outscored the Lakers 25 to 7 in a crazy turnaround. The Lakers battled back and cut the Warriors 15 point lead to one 88-85 with 3:04 left in the third quarter. Golden State had really let their foot off the pedal and Los Angeles scratched and clawed their way back into this game. The Warriors got going in the final minute of the quarter taking a 99-91 lead.

Through three quarters, the Warriors had hit 17 threes to the Lakers four. Golden State would need those long balls to close out this game against a tough Laker starting roster. Los Angeles took a hit when Anthony Davis left the floor heading to the locker room in the third quarter with an apparent leg injury.

Golden State began to heat up in the fourth quarter. The Lakers welcomed Davis back on the floor five minutes into the final quarter. He had apparently been having hip spasms when he was forced to leave the game. 

The Warriors began to extend their lead but every time they did, the Lakers battled back. With four minutes left in the game the Warriors had a 114-108 lead. The Warriors had a six point lead but had 5 turnovers in the fourth quarter. 

The Lakers took the lead in the late minutes of the fourth quarter 115-114. A very questionable call in favor of the Lakers gave Los Angeles the lead 117-114 with 22.3 ticks left on the clock. There was a lot of time left but Golden State needed a three to tie the game. 

It all came down to the final 14 seconds of the game. The Lakers held a 118-116 lead and the Warriors had a chance to win this game. There would be no buzzer beater from beyond the arc but the Warriors did tie up this game at 118 forcing overtime.

The Lakers got the jump in overtime and with 1:24 left in the game led 128-124. There was a lot of time left on the game clock and this was still anyone’s game. With 52 seconds left Curry hit a three and Golden State trailed by a single point 128-127.

 D’Angelo Russell was fouled and hit both free throws giving the Lakers a 130-127 lead. Klay Thompson tied up this game at 130 with 5.9 left on the clock. The Lakers failed to score and this game went into a second overtime. 

With 1:14 left in overtime the Warriors took their first lead of the period 141-139. The Lakers took the lead back hitting a three, the score 143-141 with 12.2 on the clock. Stephen Curry hit a three with 4.7 left on the clock giving Golden State a 144-143 lead. The Warriors fouled Lebron James and he hit both free throws winning the game 145-144. Another one point loss for Golden State in this incredible battle.

Curry finished with 46 points in fact the starters had a great game. This contest could have gone either way, but again, this one did not go the Warriors way. Both teams put on quite a show for the fans in attendance.

Post game notes: Saturday night the Warriors hosted the Lakers at Chase Center. Thursday night the Warriors lost a heartbreaker to the Sacramento Kings 134-133. With 22 seconds left in the game Domantas Sabonis gave the Kings the lead 134-133.

 The Warriors had sufficient time to take the ball downcourt and score. The Kings Fox stole the ball from Curry and that was the game. The game had been close throughout the second half but it was the Kings who held on for the win. 

The Lakers come into this game after beating the Chicago Bulls Thursday night 141-132. This was a battle between the ninth place Lakers and the 12th place Warriors. Despite losing to the Kings the Warriors Curry shot for 33 points and Kuminga hit 31. The Warriors also had 19 three’s and was looking for more of the same Saturday night. This was the first time this season that these two teams have met.

Tuesday night the Warriors will take on the Phildelphia 76ers at Chase. Tipoff in that game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.