Warriors top Lakers 100-95 in Beijing
By Ryan Donoho
The Lakers and Warriors took their turn in the “NBA Global Games” in Beijing on Tuesday. The two teams tipped at 7:30 AM ET, and it was a thriller. The Lakers starters showed that this team won’t be as bad as you think they will. The game was close throughout the entirety of the 48 minutes, and the Lakers even held a 77-69 lead in the 3rd quarter.
Nick Young was on fire and went for 18 points on 7 of 10 shooting. Pau Gasol had 15, and Steve Nash added 8 points and 4 assists in just 18 minutes of play. The Lakers spacing was exceptional, and they shot 39% from beyond the arc. Xavier Henry continues to be on track to make the team, as he added 15 off the bench.
For some reason, Mark Jackson played his starters over 30 minutes each, and that was a risky move. It makes sense to get the new guys some reps, but they were playing at an odd time, and were probably suffering from jet lag. David Lee played great with 31 points, and he scored in a variety of ways. Stephen Curry looked the best he has looked all preseason with 24 points, and he initiated the offense well and added 7 assists.
Overall the Lakers’ starters outplayed the Warriors’ starters, and Los Angeles is starting to gain confidence. Wesley Johnson and Jordan Farmar are still out, but when they return, the Lakers can have some good depth. The Warriors took the lead when the Warriors’ starters were in against the bench of LA, and they won 100-95. They will face off again in Shanghai on Friday.