The Los Angeles Lakers stretched their winning streak to three games on Saturday night, holding off the Golden State Warriors 105-99 at Crypto.com Arena.
Who: LeBron James led the way with 20 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, while trade-deadline addition Luke Kennard contributed 10 points in his purple-and-gold debut.
What: Despite committing seven turnovers and shooting 6-for-17 from the field, James fueled a decisive third-quarter run that flipped a shaky first half into a Lakers advantage. Kennard, whose first attempt was a made three-pointer, added timely perimeter shooting and ball movement, finishing with two rebounds, two assists and a steal in 26 minutes.
When: The primetime matchup took place Saturday evening.
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles.
How: With Luka Doncic sidelined by a hamstring injury and Austin Reaves still on a minutes restriction off the bench, Los Angeles struggled offensively early against an undermanned Golden State lineup. The tide turned after halftime when James opened the third period aggressively, sparking a personal scoring burst. The Warriors closed the gap late, but a crunch-time three from Kennard and several key plays by James preserved the six-point margin.
Why it matters: The victory gives the Lakers their third straight win and additional confidence heading into a busy stretch before the All-Star break. The club remains at home for a back-to-back against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday and the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, followed by a matchup with the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.
Source: LakersNation.com
