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Warriors introduce Jimmy Butler, fall back below .500 with loss to Lakers
LeBron James led the Lakers past Golden State with 42 points.
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LOS ANGELES — Early in the second quarter, LeBron James walked across halfcourt and launched a 3 from the logo.
It was his building, but he was pulling from Steph Curry range.
On his way back on defense, James held both arms over his head as if to ask the Crypto.com Arena, “Are you not entertained?”
James hit his first five 3-pointers and Curry missed his first five. The Lakers led by as much as 26 in the first half, with their superstar commanding every inch of the court.
Although Golden State (25-26) generated a second-half storm, it wasn’t enough to overcome its poor start. Curry erupted for 37 points, jacking up 35 field goals knowing his team needed him to be aggressive. It wasn’t enough to overcome James (42 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists) in the Lakers’ 120-112 win.
On the night the Warriors introduced Jimmy Butler, they showed how much they need him. He’s expected to make his team debut on Saturday in Chicago, setting up for a sprint to the finish in a crowded Western Conference with a three-headed, veteran core of Curry, Butler and Draymond Green.
Neither team had nearly their fully formed rosters, operating in the wake of the trade deadline hours earlier. Los Angeles’ deadline acquisitions, Luka Doncic and Mark Williams, were inactive. Their outgoing players Anthony Davis, Dalton Knecht, Max Christie and Cam Reddish, were elsewhere.
The Warriors likewise had 11 active players, including three on two-way deals. Andrew Wiggins, the hero and beloved teammate, is gone. So are Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson and Lindy Waters III. Jonathan Kuminga is set to get re-evaluated on Monday as he recovers from his ankle sprain. Gui Santos has a left knee injury.
Even after digging themselves a deep hole, the Warriors clawed back. A pair of 3s and Moses Moody jam represented an 8-0 run to start the second half. Curry, facilitating out of double teams, dropped off a dime to Draymond Green for a layup, inching within single digits. The Warriors hustled for loose balls and upped the physicality.
Kevon Looney tracked down an offensive board and found Gary Payton II for an and-1. Curry rainbowed in a 3. Pat Spencer swished a tough fadeaway in the paint.
The Warriors won the quarter, but not before the Lakers went on a 7-2 closing run. James flushed home a dunk in the waning seconds, heading into the fourth quarter with 34 points, 15 rebounds and six assists.
Weathering a brief apparent neck injury to Green early in the fourth, the Warriors hung close. Curry scored his 26th point of the night with an and-1 finger roll.
Curry hit a pair of 3s with under four minutes left, making up for his slow start and crossing the 30-point mark. After his second, the Warriors trailed 109-104 with 3:31 left.
Curry drained his sixth 3 to pull the Warriors within six, then the referees missed a clear eight-second violation that should have given the ball back to Golden State. Instead, the Lakers got a runout and James got to hype up the crowd as the Warriors’ frustrations boiled over with technical fouls.
Green was hot, seeking out any official who would hear him scream. Kerr’s face was beet red. Brandin Podziemski couldn’t believe it.
The missed call may not have changed the outcome, but it did make the Warriors’ unrewarded second-half effort sting all the more.
