NBA scores: LeBron James Out-Duels Steph Curry when Lakers beat Warriors

On Thursday night, a primetime match contained between two teams that dramatically shaken their guards at the trade deadline. But these movements were not exhibited: Jimmy Butler while he was in the house does not fit his Golden State Warrior’s debut, nor Luka Dončić for his Los Angeles Lakers Debut.

And in one night we saw at least which team is better absent their new addition, with Lakers holding on for a 120-112 victory.

Warriors dug a huge hole and spent the whole game trying to climb it out – which in their honor they almost did. Behind a number of turnover they fell behind 9-3 and then after an 11-0 Lakers race, drew 20-8 halfway through the first quarter. They showed some life when the quarter wore, but seven revenue led to nine points for Los Angeles and a 34-21 varnish benefit after one.

Then it got ugly fast. A sequence early in the second quarter contained LeBron James, draining a three-point shot of three consecutive belongings, while Steph Curry and Daymond Green missed the layups. If you got up to get a beer, you came back to find a deficit of 47-23 and then a deficit of 50-25 and then a 59-33 deficit.

Behind a little energy from Pat Spencer, Warriors began to show some life and a heart, but their transitional defense was spectacularly awful, and Lakers was partying on it. In a moment that felt symbolic of the game, Warriors worked out a nice inbound game to get Curry a shot at the buzzer, but he missed the open three. Lakers led 69-49 at the break, where James fell in 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting (and 5-for-6 from Deep), and Curry only 13 points on 5-for-14 shooting (and 1- for-7 from deep).

But Warriors didn’t go anywhere. Steve Kerr went small to start the third quarter and replace Quinten Post with Moses Moody, and it paid off immediately. Moody quickly made a three, followed by one from Buddy Hield, and then a can from Moody. It was an 8-0 race to start the frame, and suddenly Dubs were within 12.

Moody’s minutes were huge, and a few minutes later he grabbed an offensive rebound and drove the field to a thunderous can to make it a single -digit game. With that, Warriors kicked the intensity a notch. They hustled, they scrap, and they got lots of offensive rebounds. A Curry Three pulled them within six points with just under four minutes left, but the momentum switched back to LA at the end of the quarter. Again, it ended with a possession that summarized the game: Curry turned the ball with a few seconds back, which led to a light set up for James, and a 90-79 Lakers benefit at the end of the frame.

There was one last push. After a bucket of LeBron made it a 13-point game, Dubs rattled from a furious run, withdrew within six points and forced a lacquer timeout. But they just couldn’t get over the hump. It looked like the game lived between five and 10 points full quarter, and each time Warriors threatened to get closer, Lakers would answer. HIELD grabbed an offensive rebound and found Curry for a reloading three that made it a five-point game with about three and a half minutes back, but the Warriors violation got cold after that, and a three from James made it a nine -Point -Point with just over a minute left.

We were treated with a last glimpse of hope that evaporated quickly. Curry responded with a deep three to pull dubs within six. Half a court press forced almost a turnover, but Lakers recovered. To add insult to injuries, the judges missed an obvious violation of eight seconds. It should have been Warriors Ball, down six, with more than 50 seconds left. Instead, Warriors stopped to complain about the brutal unanswered call, and Lakers ended up with a clinic, undisputed set -up.

Dubs get a day off now and then face Chicago Bulls on Saturday. On the bright side, Butler is expected to play in that game.