Warriors Buck Pressures, Whip Lakers, 123-116
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 04 Apr 2025
All the pressures were on the Golden State to win this fourth meeting against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Firstly was to avoid a season sweep by their cross state rivals. Secondly was to keep their winning streak in order to have the chance of breaking into the Final Four vis a vis the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets. Thirdly was to avoid the danger of falling to 7th and the need to qualify through the sudden death play-in after Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves won earlier today and threatened to pass them in the standings.
The Warriors bucked all these pressures and won on the road against the Lakers by a relatively comfortable margin, 123-116. The win was all the more significant as the Lakers themselves needed the victory to keep abreast with the Nuggets in the fight for third place in the West.
Stephen Curry again led the Warriors in the victory but he was helped a great deal by Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga who before the game was even listed as doubtful to see action due to injury issue.
It was Podziemski who got the Warriors offensive going by banging three straight three pointers at the start of the first quarter. Kuminga on the other hand silently but effectively made his presence felt on both ends all the time he was on the floor, making up for a low production night by Jimmy Butler.
Despite Lebron James and Luka Doncic posting their usual numbers backed up superbly by Austin Reeves and ably by Rui Hachimura, the Lakers could not seem to keep up with the Warriors especially in the first half which Golden State dominated, 60-47.
Los Angeles was able to narrow the difference in the third quarter and at the start of the payoff period but the Warriors through Curry, Podziemski and Kuminga with the occasional heroics of Butler, Draymond Green and Dutch center Quentin Post were able to maintain the lead up to the final buzzer.
Curry topped for Golden State with 37 points plus team high 6 assists shared with Podziemski who scored 28 points plus 8 rebounds. Kuminga scattered 18 points on top of 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Butler only had 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists while Green added 8 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Moses Moody tossed 14 points in the win.
The Lakers were led by James who tallied 33 points, 5 boards and 9 assists and Reeves who supported him with 31 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Hachimura contributed 24 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists Doncic just managed 19 points but had 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
Memphis won over Miami Heat 110-108 and Minnesota dubbed Brooklyn Nets 115-100 today to remain tied at 6th with 45-32 records, just a game off the Warriors (46-31).
Golden State plays the last of its road assignments against the Denver Nuggets tomorrow hoping for another win that at least keeps it at 4th position in the West.
The Lakers on the other hand takes on New Orleans Pelicans also tomorrow girding for a comeback win to get back in the jostling for a higher Top 4 finish.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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