Lakers kick off Grammy trip with win over Warriors
SAN FRANCISCO — For all of the ups and downs they’ve experienced this season, the Lakers’ issues have rarely come when they’re at home.
With a 16-6 record when playing at Crypto.com Arena, the league’s fourth-best home record entering Saturday, it’s been what occurs when the Lakers are away from their own building that gives them trouble.
So Saturday’s 118-108 win over the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center can be considered the step in the right direction to kick off a six-game, 12-game trip.
The Lakers’ victory not only moved them to seven games above .500 (25-18) for the first time this season but gives them a 9-12 record away from Cryto.com Arena, inching them closer to a .500 road record.
They haven’t finished a season with a .500 or better road record since 2020-21, when they went 21-15.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers with a game-best 36 points and 13 rebounds to go with three steals, three assists and a blocked shot.
LeBron James finished with 25 points, 12 assists and five rebounds.
Austin Reaves added 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds in a game-high 39 minutes.
Dalton Knecht scored 13 points off of the bench on 5-of-9 shooting (three of seven on 3s), while Dorian Finney-Smith had eight points and three rebounds in his first start as a Laker in place of Rui Hachimura, who sat out because of left calf soreness.
Jarred Vanderbilt, who made his return to the floor after being sidelined for nearly a year because of feet ailments that led to offseason surgery, finished with two points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists in 12 minutes.
The Warriors (22-23) were led by Andrew Wiggins’ 20 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Golden State All-Star guard Stephen Curry finished with 13 points (4-of-17 shooting, two of nine on 3s) and nine assists, with the Lakers holding him scoreless in the second half.
Curry missed all eight shots he took in the second half, including four 3s.
The Lakers have won five of their last six games.