Lakers get chance to avenge 43-point loss to Warrirors
LOS ANGELES — The last time the Golden State Warriors visited Staples Center they suffered a surprising 20-point thumping by the Los Angeles Lakers. Since then, the Warriors have reeled off nine wins in a row.
The Warriors and the Lakers meet Friday for the second time in three days and the third time this month.
On Wednesday, the Warriors (13-2) delivered some payback in a 149-106 rout at Oracle Arena of the short-handed Lakers, who played without starting point guard D’Angelo Russell — out two weeks with a sore left knee — and forward Julius Randle (hip pointer). It was the most points scored by an NBA team this season.
“I don’t think a team I’ve been on has ever scored 150 points in a game,” said Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson, according to the East Bay Times. “But I can settle for 149.”
Stephen Curry (31), Kevin Durant (28) and Thompson (26) combined for 85 points. The Warriors, who recorded a franchise-record 47 assists, scored 80 points in the first half.
“It was a beautiful exhibition that (the Warriors) put on,” Lakers coach Luke Walton said. “As painful as this one was, that’s the beauty of the NBA. You always have another chance to redeem…