Lakers 102, Warriors 95
LOS ANGELES -- Center Pau Gasol scored 24 points as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 102-95 on Friday night before a sellout crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center.
Gasol, who also had 10 rebounds, helped the Lakers (6-7) hand Golden State (8-5) its second consecutive loss and avenged an embarrassing setback to the Warriors last month.
Forward Nick Young and point guard Jordan Farmar came off the bench to score 21 and 14 points, respectively. Farmar also had eight assists. Point guard Steve Blake finished with 14 points.
Forward David Lee led the Warriors with 21 points and 13 rebounds, and forward Harrison Barnes added 20 points. Klay Thompson scored 19 points but missed 14 of his 20 shots from the floor. Center Andrew Bogut chipped in 12 points and 13 rebounds.
The Lakers took a 55-46 lead at the half with Gasol scoring 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. Blake, who scored eight of his 10 first-half points in the quarter, also helped the Lakers extend their 22-21 lead after one quarter by outscoring Golden State 33-25 in the second.
The Warriors, though, rallied in the third quarter. Iguodala's 3-pointer tied the score at 63 with 4:22 left. But the Warriors never scored again in the quarter, and the Lakers closed it with a 12-0 run with Young and Farmar combining for the final 10 points.
Young's 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining gave the Lakers a 75-63 advantage heading into the fourth despite them making only 34.8 percent (8 of 23) of their shots from the field.
Young gave the Lakers an 83-67 lead with 8:43 left in the game on a three-point play. The Warriors cut the deficit to 91-81 on a bucket by Barnes with 4:41 remaining, but Golden State could never get over the hump.
Golden State had handed the Lakers their worst defeat this season with a 124-95 pounding on Oct. 30, but this time Los Angeles dictated.
The Warriors played without point guard Stephen Curry, who sat out his second game with a mild concussion. Curry is listed as day to day.
NOTES: Defense has been pivotal in the Warriors' strong start, coach Mark Jackson said defense has been a key in the team's strong start heading into Friday's game. "Very pleased. That's how we win ballgames, on the defensive end," Jackson said. "If you look at the (last) two games we've lost, Memphis and San Antonio, we've lost with good defensive efforts. Overall, we're a good defensive team." ... Golden State F-C Jermaine O'Neal sat out with a bruised right knee and groin strain. He is listed as day-to-day. ... Lakers C-F Pau Gasol donated $1,000 for every point he scored against the Warriors to relief efforts for typhoon victims in the Philippines. ... Lakers PF Chris Kaman sat out the contest with a sore back. His status for Sunday's game against the Sacramento Kings is unknown. ... With PG Stephen Curry out, G-F Andre Iguodala started at the point.
