After all those thrilling NBA Finals battles of last decade, Stephen Curry and LeBron James can still put on a spectacular show well into their 30s. (More Sports News)
The Golden State Warriors beat LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109 after receiving their championship rings in a pregame ceremony.
After all those thrilling NBA Finals battles of last decade, Stephen Curry and LeBron James can still put on a spectacular show well into their 30s. (More Sports News)
Opening night between these two greats showed why Curry바카라s team is on top these days.
Curry began the season with 33 points, seven assists and six rebounds despite a slow start, and the Golden State Warriors beat James and the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109 on Tuesday night after receiving their championship rings in a pregame ceremony.
바카라I바카라m thrilled with the win,바카라 coach Steve Kerr said. 바카라Ring night is never an easy game and the first game of the season is usually filled with some nerves early on.바카라
Jordan Poole made a pretty bounce pass to a driving Draymond Green for a layup and all seemed perfectly well with the defending champions almost two weeks after Green punched Poole at practice Oct. 5, then took a brief leave of absence from the team to work on his emotions. Poole wound up with 12 points and seven assists.
바카라We went out there, we had a job to do tonight to win a game,바카라 Poole said when asked if healing has happened between him and Green. 바카라It was a ring night and that바카라s really what we were focused on finishing the first game. It was a huge win against a really good team.바카라
James had 31 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, while Russell Westbrook scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds after nursing a sore left hamstring. Anthony Davis added 27 points, but the Lakers couldn바카라t keep up in another signature, runaway third quarter by reigning NBA Finals MVP Curry and Co.
바카라That third quarter is where they always excelled, when they made this transition to being a powerhouse team,바카라 James said. 바카라You바카라ve always got to be ready for the third quarters, and we were not tonight.바카라
Curry missed his initial five 3-pointers and finished 10 for 22, 4 of 13 from deep.
Klay Thompson contributed 18 points in 20 minutes for the Warriors, who celebrated the franchise바카라s fourth title in eight years.
바카라It바카라s really fun to be a part of, it바카라s really fun to watch,바카라 Poole said. 바카라... These guys have played at the highest level over and over and over again.바카라
Kerr limited the minutes of both Thompson and Green, who was away from the team until last Thursday. Kerr said he will increase Thompson바카라s minutes each game as a precaution following his return in January from an absence of more than 2 1/2 years for surgeries to his left knee and right Achilles tendon.
Warriors center James Wiseman made his first appearance since his rookie season of 2019-20 after sitting out all of last season recovering from right knee surgery. He had eight points and seven rebounds.
The Lakers바카라 22 turnovers led to 27 points for the Warriors.
바카라Whether you make a shot or you miss a shot, you turn the ball over, whatever, you바카라ve got to have a short memory and get on to the next play immediately,바카라 first-year Los Angeles coach Darvin Ham said. 바카라That has to be something that바카라s in our fabric, not just against Golden State but against the entire league.바카라
SAGINAW PROUD
Ham was thrilled to represent Saginaw, Michigan, in his coaching debut 바카라 and proud that it바카라s also Green바카라s hometown.
바카라I바카라m excited for the city of Saginaw, Michigan, to get to see a kid that represents the city well and happens to be playing some really good basketball and playing at a high level his entire career in Draymond Green,바카라 Ham said. 바카라And now they get to see another kid who is the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. This is a great night for Saginaw.바카라
TIP-INS
Lakers: F Juan Toscano-Anderson received his championship ring from his former team, the first player to accept the sparkling jewelry. ... Patrick Beverley picked up his third foul with 5:46 left in the first half and shot 1 of 5 for three points. ... C Thomas Bryant had surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament on his left thumb and is scheduled to be re-evaluated by team doctors in about three weeks. 바카라He came in and it was bothering him. The way he plays you know setting screens, diving on the floor, rumble tumble type of big, really providing the physicality, it could have happened anywhere,바카라 Ham said. 바카라Again he got fixed up today so we바카라re looking forward to a speedy recovery with him.바카라
Warriors: The Warriors have won three straight at home vs. the Lakers. ... Golden State is 6-1 in home openers after a championship season. ... F Andre Iguodala was inactive for the opener as the Warriors monitor his nagging left hip and manage the 38-year-old forward바카라s playing time at the start of his 19th season.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Host the Clippers for their home opener Thursday.
Warriors: Host Denver on Friday night in a rematch of the first round of this year바카라s playoffs after the Nuggets handed the Warriors their lone preseason defeat last Friday.