LOS ANGELES >> Early in the second quarter, LeBron James walked across halfcourt and launched a 3 from the logo.

It was his building, but he was pulling from Steph Curry range.

On his way back on defense, James held both arms over his head as if to ask the Crypto.com Arena crowd, “Are you not entertained?”

James hit his first five 3-pointers and Curry missed his first five. The Lakers led by as much as 26 in the first half, with their superstar commanding every inch of the court. They took advantage of several instances of lackadaisical Warriors defense or imbalanced floor spacing to leak out for fast break layups, tilting the game with easy buckets.

Although Golden State (25-26) generated a second-half storm, it wasn’t enough to overcome its poor start. Curry erupted for 37 points, jacking up 35 field goals knowing his team needed him to be aggressive. It wasn’t enough to overcome James (42 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists) in the Lakers’ 120-112 win.

“Loved our fight in the second half,” Steve Kerr said postgame. “Loved the way the guys competed. That’s what it’s going to have to feel like the rest of the season. We got to bring that level of energy, but we have to add the awareness and the feel of not giving up the easy stuff when it comes to transition, pick-six passes, fouling when they’re in the bonus…too many plays that gave them easy points.”

On the night the Warriors introduced Jimmy Butler, they showed how much they need him. He’s expected to make his team debut on Saturday in Chicago, setting up for a sprint to the finish in a crowded Western Conference with a three-headed veteran core of Curry, Butler and Draymond Green.

Neither team had nearly their fully formed rosters, operating in the wake of the trade deadline hours earlier. The Lakers’ deadline acquisitions, Luka Doncic and Mark Williams, were inactive. Their outgoing players Anthony Davis, Dalton Knecht, Max Christie and Cam Reddish, were elsewhere.

The Warriors likewise had 11 active players, including three on two-way deals. Andrew Wiggins, a beloved teammate, is gone. So are Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson and Lindy Waters III. Jonathan Kuminga is set to be re-evaluated on Monday as he recovers from his ankle sprain. Gui Santos has a left knee injury.

Even after digging themselves a deep hole, the Warriors clawed back. A pair of 3s and Moses Moody jam represented an 8-0 run to start the second half. Curry, facilitating out of double teams, dropped off a dime to Draymond Green for a layup, inching within single digits. The Warriors hustled for loose balls and upped the physicality.

Kevon Looney tracked down an offensive board and found Gary Payton II for an and-1. Curry rainbowed in a 3. Pat Spencer swished a tough fadeaway in the paint.

The Warriors won the quarter, but not before the Lakers went on a 7-2 closing run. James flushed home a dunk in the waning seconds, heading into the fourth quarter with 34 points, 15 rebounds and six assists.

Weathering a brief apparent neck injury to Green early in the fourth, the Warriors hung close. Curry scored his 26th point of the night with an and-1 finger roll.

Curry hit a pair of 3s with under four minutes left, making up for his slow start and crossing the 30-point mark. After his second, the Warriors trailed 109-104 with 3:31 left.

Curry drained his sixth 3 to pull the Warriors within six, then the referees missed a clear eight-second violation that should have given the ball back to Golden State. Instead, the Lakers got a runout and James got to hype up the crowd as the Warriors’ frustrations boiled over with technical fouls.

Green was hot, seeking out any official who would hear him scream. Kerr’s face was beet red. Brandin Podziemski couldn’t believe it.

The missed call may not have changed the outcome, but it did make the Warriors’ unrewarded second-half effort sting all the more.

Next up: Butler’s debut.

“We have an amazing opportunity in front of us,” Curry said postgame. “(Thirty-one) game sprint, try to get into the playoffs and be a team that nobody wants to see when we get there. Those two guys (Butler and Green) have a unique way about them that will not only motivate each other but will motivate the locker room. Young guys feed off that. Just build confidence. We talked a big game earlier in the year, we’ve had some struggles. Now we’re kind of rejuvenated a little bit.”