Curry’s 47 wouldn’t be enough for Kobe-less Lakers down the stretch 118-116

Lakers center Dwight Howard proved too much for Carl Landry and Golden State in the final minutes of Fridays matchup at Staples.

Photo courtesy of Yahoo Images

By Felicia D. McDaniel

Sports in the Bay!

After going down to the 1^st place Thunder the previous night, the Golden State Warriors lost their second in a down-to-the-wire game against the Los Angeles Lakers, 118-116.

It’s a game that Golden State should have won but the Kobe-less Lakers would step up in the final minutes. With Andrew Bogut out and players in foul trouble the Warriors couldn't contend with center Dwight Howard who made clutch free throws in the final 1.5 seconds of the game.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 47 points, scoring 32 points in the first half and finishing the game with nine 3’s. However, the Lakers defense would step up after Kobe Bryant left the game with a probably torn achilles tendon with 3:00 left in the game. Despite this horrible outcome, Bryant must be proud of the way his guys finished the game.

Although they have already clinched a playoff berth, Golden State currently holds the 6th place spot in the Western Conference Standings with a 1/2 game over Houston. If Houston wins their final games they will face Golden State in the playoffs; if Golden State loses their remainding games they will have a matchup against either OKC or the Spurs.

The (45-35) Warriors play their final home game of the season against the (58-21) San Antonio Spurs on Monday. San Antonio leads the series 2-1.

Golden State will finish their regular season on the road against (33-46) Portland on Wednesday. Golden State leads the series 2-0.

GAME NOTES: Warriors: Curry: 47, Thompson 25. Lakers: Bryant 34, Howard 28, Gasol 26. Lakers shoot 50 from the free throw line to Warriors 16.

NOTABLE INJURIES FOR MONDAY: Bogut (GS): Bruised ankle bone; Ginobili (SA): Sprained ankle.

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