The Golden State Warriors were practically anointed NBA champions back in July, but it took them a month of the 2016-17 season to scale the standings.
Golden State reached the summit by way of what proved to be a pyrrhic 109-85 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Friday.
Two nights after thumping L.A. in Oakland by 43 points, the Dubs had to gut one out down south against an even more threadbare Lakers bunch. Nick Young—who scored eight points Wednesday—joined Julius Randle (hip pointer) and D'Angelo Russell (sore knee) in street clothes with a sprained toe of his own.
Golden State suffered some losses of its own. On one play late in the third quarter, with the Warriors up 74-56, Draymond Green twisted his ankle and dropped his knee on Ian Clark's head, knocking both players out of the game.
The Dubs went on to drub the Lakers just fine: Kevin Durant followed up a 28-point performance at Oracle Arena with 29, nine assists and six rebounds. His opposite number, Brandon Ingram, struggled through a 3-of ...
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Article written by Josh Martin