Thursday, November 30, 2017

Lakers Drop Game in OT to Dubs

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com and Yahoo Sports*

Brandon Ingram posted a career high with 32 points to go with 5 rebounds and 3 assists, but the Lakers let the defending champs hang around a little too long as they fell to the Warriors 127-123 in OT. KCP added 21 points and 7 rebounds and Lonzo Ball added a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists. Jordan Clarkson had a solid all-around game off the bench with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists and Julius Randle racked up 20 points.

Final Score: vs. Golden State 127-123 (OT) [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20171129/GSWLAL#/recap

Next Game: @ Denver (12/02)


Highlights: *Courtesy of Ximo Pierto*

Add this to the list games the Lakers let slip away this week. The Warriors were not sharp with their ball movement tonight and Curry was struggling from the field. This is the kind of stuff the Lakers needed to take advantage of while they can and just like the Clippers game, they couldn't close it out. But, we can't put aside their effort this game. They gave the Warriors all they could handle. Brandon Ingram had a monster game, posting a career high in points. B.I. had all three phases of his shot working: attacking the basket, midrange jumpshot, and the three-point range in which he connected on two from deep. Compare his stats with Kevin Durant this game, KD had 29 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block on 12-25 shooting. B.I. had 32 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks on 12-21 shooting. Those are near-identical numbers! B.I. is slowly creeping up to his Kevin Durant-esque ceiling in which everybody touted about during his draft day. Though, this whole game centered around Lonzo Ball and Steph Curry which was rooted in Lavar Ball's comments when Zo was still in the UCLA. Lavar said that Zo would be better than Steph Curry. Tonight, it was like a tale of two halves between the two. Zo had his three point shot falling and he was aggressive as a facilitator and at times, a scorer. Steph couldn't buy a bucket. Then later, Zo struggled to score and handle the ball and Curry rekindled his inhuman range from deep in OT. The Lakers' pretty much sealed their own fate by allowing this game to go to OT. It started by allowing Kevin Durant too much space for the game tying three after KCP made a three point play. By the way, KCP struggled to score early on, but he came alive in the fourth. Then on the final play of regulation, they elected to go to Ingram and have him attack the basket. I thought he got fouled on that play, but the referees, 99% of the time, are not going to decide the final seconds of the game with their whistle. In OT, Curry got hot and that was all that's needed. Lakers had a chance for another tie, but Clarkson tipped the ball so far off KCP was beaten by a step by Iguodala for the loose ball. This game overall exemplified a case of good teams finding ways to win and young teams finding ways not to finish right. The Warriors found a way to win. The Lakers fail to close out again this week with the lead.

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