LAL 118, GSW 115 OT - Warriors fall to Lakers in overtime. As the Warriors' fourth-quarter lead dwindled on Saturday, their players anxiously looked to the bench, but coach Mark Jackson, known for letting his team play through tough stretches, didn’t call a timeout. Despite successfully closing out the first 15 games they led entering the fourth quarter, this time the Warriors couldn’t hold on. A 14-point lead vanished as Kobe Bryant took control in overtime, leading the Lakers to a 118-115 victory at Oracle Arena. Jackson acknowledged that a few key plays could have prevented overtime, but the Warriors faltered as the Lakers made critical shots down the stretch.
Player of the game:
Metta World Peace: 20 PTS, 7-13 FGM, 54 FG%, 3-6 3PM, 3-4 FTM, 5 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, GMSC 18.4
In overtime, Bryant repeatedly gave the Lakers a four-point cushion, but Stephen Curry’s late three-pointer brought the Warriors within one. However, Steve Nash responded with a crucial leaner, and Curry’s final shot missed the mark. The Lakers used a 12-0 run to erase the Warriors' fourth-quarter lead, with Nash and Jarrett Jack trading key plays in the final minutes. Jack, who had a standout night with 29 points and 11 assists, was crucial in keeping the Warriors competitive, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Lakers from securing their fourth straight win.
Notable performance:
Kobe Bryant: 34 PTS, 16-41 FGM, 39 FG%, 2-8 3PM, 0-1 FTM, 10 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 3 TOV, GMSC 15.0
The Warriors had been on a strong run, winning 11 of their last 14 games, but the Lakers continued their resurgence, improving to 13-14. Despite limiting key Lakers like Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol, the Warriors couldn’t contain Bryant, who scored 34 points on 41 shots. The game highlighted the Warriors' struggles with turnovers, especially in the first quarter when they gave up 15 points off 10 turnovers, a weakness the Lakers capitalized on to maintain control early in the game.
