The Lakers lost just two times this summer. Unfortunately, the same team that handed them their first loss also gave them their final defeat.
In the semifinals of the Las Vegas Summer League on Saturday, the Lakers fell to the Warriors, 92-88. Golden State handed LA a far more unceremonious loss to open the summer at the California Classic.
It was an evenly matched contest throughout with 18 lead changes and neither side holding a double-digit lead the entire game. Each team led in the second half and fourth quarter, but Golden State grabbed the lead early in the frame and held it for the remainder of the game.
LA made a late run to close the deficit to one point, but a pair of turnovers in the final minute looked costly. A late foul on a Mañon 3-pointer gave the purple and gold a chance to tie the game, but the guard converted two of three to keep them down one. One last costly turnover with under 10 seconds remaining sealed the result.
Chris Mañon was once again the main man in getting the offense going early for LA, scoring the first four points for the Lakers. Will Richard knocked down a triple for Golden State. At the 5:44 mark, the Warriors were up by one.
It was a fast-paced, back-and-forth game with both teams playing hard and battling. Adou Thiero joined Mañon with four points, including a fastbreak dunk.
Jon Elmore provided a spark off the bench again with five points. At the end of the first, the purple and gold were down by two.
Cameron Carr knocked down a midrange jumper to start the second period. Arthur Kaluma put Los Angeles in the lead with a pull-up jumpshot.
LA had a very balanced offensive attack, with almost all players scoring. Kaluma drained his first 3-pointer of the half, giving him a team-leading seven points.
After an awkward fall led to Cameron Carr exiting the game with an apparent elbow injury, he returned shortly after looking no worse the wear.
At the 5:58 mark, the Lakers were up by two. LA had gone up by five until a 3-pointer from Chance McMillian made it a two-point Golden State deficit.
At halftime, it was a tie game.
Malevy Leons began the scoring in the third period with a triple for the Warriors. Anton Watson scored on the other end for Los Angeles with a layup.
Thiero was having a strong quarter defensively before throwing down another monstrous dunk and converting on a three-point play.
At the 5:54 mark, it was once again a tied game. The Lakers were 3-8 from the field, while the Warriors were 2-8. It was a continued, evenly matched affair between the teams.
Carr and Thiero were the only Lakers in double figures with 12 and 11, respectively.
The Warriors went on a 7-0 run to take the lead, but Los Angeles responded with four in a row to go up by three at the end of the third.
Golden State started the final frame on an 8-0 scoring run to go up by five. Carr responded with a triple. Yaxel Lendeborg answered with a 3-pointer himself to extend the Warriors’ lead once more. AK Okereke then knocked down a 3-pointer for LA.
LJ Cryer responded with a triple to give Golden State a five-point lead with 6:36 left. Thiero started to come alive with five points, but the Warriors still had the momentum.
Kaluma converted on a layup to make it a four-point game. Los Angeles had 2:29 left to keep their Summer League championship hopes alive.
Leons scored on a layup, giving the Warriors a cushion on their lead. Kaluma was fouled and only converted on one free throw. With 1:31 left, Thiero made it a one-possession game.
Carr was fouled and knocked down both free throws to make it a one-point game with 1:12 left. A series of turnovers eventually led to the Lakers trailing by three in the final seconds.
Mañon was fouled while he attempted a 3-pointer and converted on two of three free throws. McMillian was fouled and converted on both free throws to put Golden State up by three with 8.3 seconds left.
The Warriors stole the ball on the ensuing inbound. Will Richard was fouled and drained one free throw to clinch the win for Golden State.
Key Player Stats
Thiero scored 18 points with 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Carr notched 17 points in 28 minutes of play. Elmore pitched in with 10 points off the bench.
Kaluma finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Mañon tallied with 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Zhaire Smith logged seven points in 14 minutes as a reserve. Okereke had eight points.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
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