© Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
OAKLAND —With three of their four All-Stars out due to injury, the Warriors hardly resembled their typical juggernaut on Wednesday night. But with Kevin Durant’s steady hand, and contributions from its complementary players, Golden State cruised to a 117-106 win over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.
Among the five injured Warriors were Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, who spent the game broadcasting it with his dad, Mychal. If there is a silver lining to Golden State’s diminishing roster, it’s the opportunities that have opened for the non-All Stars.
Quinn Cook started in Curry’s place and ran the offense effectively. Cook finished with 13 points on 5-11 shooting. Shaun Livingston found his sweet spots in the short corners and elbows for 13 points. Omri Casspi actively cut to the hoop throughout the game and ended with 15 points on 7-8 shooting.
“This is a great opportunity for guys,” Kerr said pregame. “They should be chomping at the bit. Klay and Steph, what’s that, about 75 shots that aren’t going to be available on most nights that are suddenly there? It should be a free swing.”
With Kerr’s encouragement, it wasn’t surprising that gunslinger Nick Young came out firing. Young started miserably, failing to connect on any of his four first half field goal attempts with a turnover. But he heated up in the second half, finishing with 18 points and three three-pointers.
Perhaps the most encouraging sign from Wednesday night’s victory was the return of Andre Iguodala from a wrist injury. He looked healthy, was defensively active and added three assists in 22 minutes.
Lakers power forward Julius Randle scored a team-high 22 points, as point guard Isaiah Thomas and center Brook Lopez poured in 20 points apiece.
Durant, the lone active All-Star on the Warriors, was his usual surgical self, producing 26 points on 10-19 shooting.
Prior to Wednesday night’s win, head coach Steve Kerr prioritized winning, but he knows a much greater reward awaits his team in a couple months.
The Warriors are firmly entrenched as a top-two seed in the Western Conference. Last week, Green said he and his teammates won’t kill themselves for the top spot.
What takes precedence is Golden State’s health as it enters the final 14 games of the regular season. It seems Thompson and Green will return within the next couple weeks fully healthy for the final regular season push. While Curry is expected to return sometime in the regular season, the prognosis is less clear for the two-time NBA MVP, who has run into ankle issues all year.
As he continues to rest, Golden State’s complementary pieces will continue to earn valuable reps, which Kerr hopes will pay off when it matters most.