




LOS ANGELES >> Blowouts have been a rarity for the Lakers, even at home. But with a home-heavy stretch approaching in March, it’s worth wondering if fans might start getting used to the purple-and-gold streamer celebrations after nearly a year-and-a-half of lean times.
The Lakers picked up where they left off in the most meaningful way: comfortably beating a team ahead of them in the standings. Without Steph Curry in the fold, the Warriors couldn’t stand toe-to-toe with the Lakers in a 124-111 rout — a result that feels like it’s becoming surprisingly routine in L.A. since the trade deadline.
The most surprising part was who led the way: LeBron James and Anthony Davis were neither the first or second-leading scorers for the evening. James was just 5 for 20 for 13 points with eight assists and nine rebounds, while Davis took only five shots, finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.
The Lakers’ top bucket-getter was Malik Beasley, the trade pickup out of Utah, who finished 9 for 16 with 25 points, including seven threes. By early in the fourth quarter, Warriors coach Steve Kerr emptied the bench and ceded defeat as the Lakers lead ballooned past 20 points.
Before the trade deadline, the Lakers’ last double-digit win was Jan. 6 against the Atlanta Hawks. Their last two have both been by at least 13, the final minutes played out in garbage time. Blowouts have been few and far between for the Lakers this season — their shooting additions might point a way out of the wilderness.
It was the second win over the Warriors in the last four, but this one was won in a 36-24 walloping in the third quarter — an area Davis cited as a point of emphasis in Wednesday’s practice. Austin Reaves was the biggest swing piece in that frame, scoring 13 of his 17 points.
While James and Davis had highlights, each dropping in soaring dunks in the game, they were limited to just 26 minutes apiece. Coach Darvin Ham had hoped to limit the workload on his workhorses, who have both been injury-prone over the last few seasons.
The biggest question mark for the Lakers coming out of the game was D’Angelo Russell, the star (re)acquistion of the trade deadline. In his fourth start for the team, Russell stepped on Donte Divincenzo’s foot as he attempted an inbounds pass.
Russell finished with just two points and three assists in nine minutes against the Warriors, with whom he had a short stint in the 2019-20 season. The Lakers confirmed that an X-ray showed no sign of fracture, and Russell is considered day-to-day.
But Beasley was more than enough from the new additions, nailing his first three shots of the game in the first two minutes alone. While his outside shot was his most dangerous weapon, Beasley also showcased a third-quarter floater that might keep defenses guessing.
Among the bench performers, the top standout was Reaves, who was 6 for 6 from the field and 4 for 4 from the free-throw line, and he helped lead a 9-0 run at the end of the third quarter that drove the margin from solid to comfortable.