By beating the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, the Golden State Warriors signaled that they are once again serious contenders for the title. This second matchup of the 2021-22 campaign lived up to the hype, ending in a thrilling 121-114 comeback win for the Warriors. Meanwhile, the Lakers continue their streak of opening-night struggles in the era of LeBron James.
Golden State's balanced attack saw five players score in double figures to clinch the game. The Lakers, however, suffered from a lack of depth; although LeBron James and Anthony Davis put up a massive 67 points together, the supporting cast only contributed 47. The Warriors' outlook is even brighter with the anticipated return of Klay Thompson.
Stephen Curry played a masterful game, leading the charge with 21 points and a complete triple-double, recording 10 boards and 10 assists. Jordan Poole provided a surprising spark with 20 points, while Nemanja Bjelica and Damion Lee each added 15 points to the total.
The Lakers' offense was heavily skewed toward their two superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who accounted for over half of the team's points. James was the standout performer with a game-high 34 points and 11 rebounds, and Davis closely followed with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists. Unfortunately for LA, no other player on the team managed to reach double digits.
The game started with a high tempo, as both teams traded baskets in the first quarter to keep the fans on the edge of their seats. The Warriors stayed close, trailing by only two at one point. By the middle of the second quarter, the Lakers held a 48-43 lead, aided by Russell Westbrook's first basket. Despite LA's momentum, Golden State remained competitive thanks to a combined 20 points from Lee, Bjelica, and Andre Iguodala, though the Lakers still entered halftime with a 6-point advantage.
The third quarter opened with Jordan Poole hitting a three to tie the game at 61-61. The Lakers briefly regained control with a 7-0 run, sparked by the seamless chemistry between LeBron and Davis. There was a moment of concern for the Warriors when Curry suffered a minor ankle sprain, but he fortunately returned to the game. For a while, the Warriors struggled to find their rhythm as the Lakers' defense tightened up.
Still, the persistence of Curry and Poole kept the game within reach. Entering the final quarter trailing by just two, Curry took over, scoring key baskets to put the Warriors ahead with nine minutes left. The rest of the squad then locked in, fueling a 15-5 run that pushed the lead to 98-90.
Nemanja Bjelica played a pivotal role as a facilitator, hitting a perfect 1-for-1 from beyond the arc and setting up Andrew Wiggins for a crucial late-game three-pointer. The Warriors' superior ball movement created too many open looks for the Lakers to handle, eventually leading Golden State to a hard-earned victory.