Without Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins, the Golden State Warriors couldn’t keep up with the Los Angeles Lakers in their first game after the All-Star break on Thursday night.
After trailing by as many as 13 in the first half, Jordan Poole was able to provide a spark as the Warriors went on a run to close out the second quarter and cut the Lakers’ advantage. However, cold shooting and turnovers cut into Golden State’s chances of making a shorthanded comeback.
The Lakers outscored the Warriors 36-24 in the third quarter to help cruise to a 124-111 win on Thursday night.
With LeBron James scoring only 13 points on 5-of-20 shooting from the field, Malik Beasley fueled the Lakers’ offense on Thursday against the Warriors. The newly acquired shooter tallied 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field with seven made triples in 26 minutes.
Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 22 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the floor with two steals and two boards in 27 minutes.
Following Golden State’s loss in Hollywood to start the stretch run of the season, the NBA community on Twitter chimed in with different reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on Thursday night.
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Man the Warriors make some really bad turnovers.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) February 24, 2023
Final: Lakers 124, Warriors 111
The Lakers are 3-1 with their new group. They improve to 28-32. This was a huge win coming out of the ASB. Malik Beasley had 25 points (seven 3s). LeBron had his lowest-scoring game (13 points) since Nov. 21, 2021.
Up next: at DAL on Sunday.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 24, 2023
A team that shoots as many threes as the Warriors simply must defend the line. It's the only way taking so many threes can be an advantage
Warriors 9-36 from 3
Lakers 13-25 from 3— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) February 24, 2023
Warriors open the stretch run with a blowout loss to the Lakers. They're now 7-23 on the road this season. Tied for third fewest road wins in the NBA. Overall record: 29-30. Tied for 9th seed with Utah. Upcoming homestand: Rockets, Wolves, Blazers, Clippers, Pelicans.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 24, 2023
Last season, Warriors were one of the best in the league at defending the 3-point line. Held opponents to 33.9 percent from 3 in regular season, tied with Boston and Miami for best in the league.
This season: 36.6 percent (19th)
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) February 24, 2023
Warriors are more concerned about defending the paint. But points in the paint (PITP) hurts them much less than when they get worked behind the arc
When they allow 50 or more PITP: 7-10
When they allow between 40-50 PITP: 12-13
When they allow fewer than 40 PITP: 10-7— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) February 24, 2023
Warriors exit the All-Star break the same way they entered: with a loss in Los Angeles. This time to the Lakers by 13 points.
What went wrong tonight other than not having Steph and Andrew?
— C.J. Holmes 🚀 (@CjHolmes22) February 24, 2023
The Warriors fall to the Lakers 124-111 in their first game out of the break. They're now 29-30 on the season — tied for ninth in the West.
Host Houston tomorrow.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) February 24, 2023
Steve Kerr waves the white flag down 20 with more than nine minutes left. Warriors have the Rockets in SF tomorrow night.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 24, 2023
Same story: they're overhelping in the paint due to no rim protection, and, on the kickout, are forced to cover a long distance to try and contest the 3pt shot but no longer have the bigger forwards to contest. That's in addition to the missed rotations and lack of urgency. (1/2) https://t.co/ypGLZUieUN
— Nick Elliston (@Nellis510) February 24, 2023
That's a 36-24 third quarter for the Lakers. Warriors are a cumulative -29 in third quarters this season. They can't score enough tonight. Now 29-of-80 overall and 9-of-36 from 3. Lakers have made four more 3s on 11 fewer attempts.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 24, 2023
.@BontaHill is in panic mode right now 😬 pic.twitter.com/b2Xg2gJALv
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) February 24, 2023
Warriors playing like this after championship just shows you that everything in life is temporary. Championships are temporary, defense is temporary, shot making is temporary, happiness is temporary, and just like everything else her love was temporary
— Nai (@_Nai_Roy) February 24, 2023
Going to be tough for the Dubs to get wins against playoff caliber teams as long as Steph & Wiggs are out. Cold hard truth.
— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) February 24, 2023
Lakers had EIGHT players score 10+ PTS
Bron and AD only played 26 min 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/Cr1L0P8oNC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 24, 2023
Final 📊
Klay – 22p/3r/2s
Ty – 20p/2r/3a/1s
Jordan – 16p/1r/4a/2s
Kevon – 10p/15r/1a/1s
Patrick – 11p/2r
Jonathan – 10p/3r/5a
Moses – 8p/2r/1a
Draymond – 6p/11r/5a/1b/1s
Donte – 5p/3r/1a/1b/3s
JaMychal – 3p/2r
Anthony – 0p/5r/4a/1b pic.twitter.com/TcxlnbKoHv— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) February 24, 2023
Warriors lose 124-111 to the Lakers. It was bad. Real bad
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) February 24, 2023
Yes, you added that correctly. They are 27-13 when they give up fewer than 15 made threes
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) February 24, 2023
This is the win that turns around the Lakers season.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 24, 2023