The Golden State Warriors overwhelmed the Los Angeles Lakers 124-98 on Tuesday at Chase Center, taking control early and cruising to a 26-point preseason victory.
The Lakers were without several key players, including Luka Doncic, who sat out after scoring 21 points in Monday’s preseason opener against the Sacramento Kings. Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams were also unavailable.
Golden State took advantage immediately, racing to a 45-31 lead after the first quarter. The Warriors then extended their advantage to 81-53 by halftime, putting the game effectively out of reach.
Yaxel Lendeborg led the Warriors with 17 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point range. The rookie also grabbed nine rebounds and finished with a team-best +21 plus/minus.
Brandin Podziemski added 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Stephen Curry scored 16 points in only 14 minutes. Curry shot 4-of-7 overall, made three of his six three-point attempts and added five assists.
Draymond Green made his impact primarily as a playmaker, recording eight assists in 14 minutes. He also hit his only three-point attempt and finished with a +25 plus/minus.
Golden State shot 51% from the field and 43% from three-point range, compared with 40% and 35%, respectively, for Los Angeles.
The Lakers were led by Sandro Mamukelashvili, who scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting while making three of his four attempts from beyond the arc. Quentin Grimes finished with 12 points and three assists, while Dalton Knecht scored 11 points. Jaden Hadry added 13.
Bronny James had four points and five assists in 21 minutes, while Adou Thiero contributed seven points and four rebounds.
Golden State maintained its control after halftime, entering the fourth quarter with a 96-75 lead. The Warriors’ reserves then finished the job, with Miles Kelly hitting two three-pointers in the fourth and Dalen Terry adding six points.
