Short-handed Warriors blow past Lakers

[March 15, 2018]  Nick Young, Quinn Cook, Kevon Looney and Zaza Pachulia did all the scoring in an 18-3 run early in the third quarter that propelled the short-handed Golden State Warriors to a 117-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers to complete a season-series sweep Wednesday night in Oakland, Calif.

Kevin Durant dropped in a game-high 26 points for the Warriors, who were playing without three All-Stars -- Stephen Curry (sprained right ankle), Klay Thompson (fractured right thumb) and Draymond Green (sore right shoulder).

Julius Randle had a team-high 22 points for the Lakers, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back set, having beaten Denver 112-103 in an emotional revenge game Tuesday.

The win was the Warriors' seventh straight over the Lakers, including four in a row this season. Golden State hadn't swept a season series from its California rival since Chris Webber was a rookie in 1994.

After leading by as many as 10 in the first half, the Warriors found themselves down 59-58 before Cook ignited the decisive burst with a 3-pointer.

Young, a former Laker, contributed two jumpers and three free throws to the spurt, which opened a 76-64 lead at the 6:24 mark of the third period.

The Lakers got within five on two occasions early in the fourth period, but the Warriors kept them at arm's length the rest of the way to snap a two-game losing streak.

The Warriors haven't lost three in a row this season.

Durant hit 10 of his 19 shots and added a team-high six assists for Golden State, which won for the 259th time in the past four seasons, an NBA record for a four-season span.

 

Warriors forward Omri Casspi (18) celebrates after a play against the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Young connected on three 3-pointers to account for half his 18 points. Omri Casspi chipped in with 15 points, Cook and Shaun Livingston 13 apiece, Looney 11 and Pachulia 10 in a balanced Warriors attack.

Pachulia also had a game-high 12 rebounds.

Brook Lopez and Isaiah Thomas backed Randle with 20 points apiece for the Lakers, who also were down a couple of key players with Kyle Kuzma (sprained right ankle) and Brandon Ingram (strained left groin) out of action.

Los Angeles had won four of its previous five road games.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 13 points for the Lakers, while Lonzo Ball recorded a game-high 11 assists to complement eight points.

--Field Level Media

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