Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - One night after shocking the heavily-favored Clippers and making a statement to the rest of the league with a win at Staples Center, the Lakers showed their true colors.
Playing in front of a rowdy crowd at Oracle Arena, Los Angeles fell to the Golden State Warriors, 125-94, on Wednesday.
Klay Thompson led the way for the Warriors with a career-high 38 points on 15- of-19 efficiency before departing late in the third quarter to a rousing ovation from his home crowd. David Lee added 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the triumph.
"There's no secret that Klay Thompson is a phenomenal shooter," Warriors head coach Mark Jackson said. "I don't think enough credit is given that he's a heck of a basketball player. Not only did he shoot the lights out, but he defended."
Stephen Curry, who led Golden State to the Western Conference semifinals a season ago, scored 10 points to go with a game-high six assists.
The Lakers were without point guard Steve Nash, who turns 40 in February. Nash announced during the preseason that he will occasionally sit out the second game of a back-to-back this season.
Jodie Meeks replaced Nash in the starting lineup and dropped 14 points for the Lakers, who assisted on just 19 baskets compared to 34 helpers for Golden State.
"Growing pains," Meeks said of the setback. "We have a lot of young guys on this team, myself included. They're going to happen."
Xavier Henry and Jordan Farmer, heroes from LA's season-opening victory, netted 14 and 12 points, respectively, off the bench.
Lee's swooping layup on the Warriors' first possession set the tone. Thompson followed with a triple, one of four he hit in the opening period. His fourth 3-pointer with 1:44 left in the quarter put Golden State up 12. They led 26-16 after the first.
A Pair of Henry free throws early in the second cut LA's deficit to eight points, but a 31-14 surge that spanned the majority of the quarter all but put the game away. A Curry patented pull-up three midway through the frame led to a Lakers timeout. After a series of Warriors' fouls, Chris Kaman made a free throw but Lee scored four straight.
The lead allowed Jackson to rest his starters the entire fourth quarter. Only Thompson (31:04) played more than 30 minutes.
Toney Douglas netted 10 of his 13 points in the final period, while Ognjen Kuzmic scored his first NBA points on a dunk.
Game Notes
Golden State outrebounded the Lakers, 48-39 ... The Warriors sank 15 triples as a team ... Andre Iguodala had seven points, four rebounds and four assists in his Warriors debut. Iguodala inked a four-year deal with the club this summer ... The Lakers never led ... Henry played a career-high 35:31 ... The Warriors travel to LA to face the Clippers on Thursday, while the Lakers have a night off before hosting the defending Western Conference champion Spurs.
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