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Well, what do you know! The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t doomed because they lost four consecutive games without two of their most valuable players. Who could have guessed that?
In their second game with Dennis Schröder back in the starting lineup, the Lakers handily won another game, beating the Golden State Warriors 117-91 at Staples Center on Sunday. Sunday marked their first consecutive win since Feb. 16.
The Lakers were feeling it from behind the arc to start the game, which isn’t something that has happened often this season for them, especially as of late. Going into Sunday night’s game, they were shooting a league-worst 29.1% from 3-point range in February.
The best part of their hot start from 3-point territory was who was making the shots. Marc Gasol, who’s only scored more than nine points two times this season, scored nine points on 3-4 shooting from behind the arc in the first quarter. Gasol ended the game with nine points, but that was in large part due to the fact that he that he only played 16:28.
Gasol likely would have played more if the game was close, but it never really was. At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers already had a 20-point lead, which wasn’t even their largest lead of the game — their largest lead was 35 points.
Because they were ahead by so much, Lakers fans were treated to Damian Jones’ debut. Jones was able to make an immediate impact in his first minutes with the team, tallying 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks. That alone probably earned him a second 10-day contract.
Unfortunately, Jones finished two points short of double figures. Had he cracked 10 points, he would have been the seventh Laker on the night to have at least 10 points. LeBron James led all scorers with 19 points. Steph Curry had 16.
The Lakers will try and extend their winning streak to three games on Tuesday, when they’re set to host the Phoenix Suns for the first time this season. The Suns currently sit at the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, one game behind the LA Clippers.
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