LeBron James tallied 26 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 119-103 win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday in San Francisco.
Deandre Ayton scored 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and Jake LaRavia added 16 points for the Lakers (51-29), who moved into a tie with the Houston Rockets (51-29) for the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference. Both teams are one game behind the Denver Nuggets (52-28).
Los Angeles led by nine before opening the fourth quarter with a 24-6 run. Luke Kennard finished with 14 points, Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr. added 12 apiece and Bronny James had 10 to help the Lakers win the season series against the Warriors 3-1.
Brandin Podziemski and Nate Williams led Golden State (37-43) with 17 points apiece. Charles Bassey, Pat Spencer and Malevy Leons each scored 12 points, Seth Curry added 11, and Gary Payton II had 10. Bassey grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds. Leons’ point total was a career best.
Golden State lost for the fifth time in its past six games and will be the No. 10 seed in the West and compete in the play-in tournament.
Both teams entered the game without several key regulars. Stephen Curry (right knee injury management), Kristaps Porzingis (illness/knee), Will Richard (back) and Gui Santos (pelvic contusion) all sat out for Golden State, which used its 41st different lineup of the season.
The Lakers played without Luka Doncic (hamstring), Austin Reaves (oblique), Jaxson Hayes (foot) and Marcus Smart (ankle).
LeBron James scored 12 points in the opening quarter to help give the Lakers a 28-23 lead.
Los Angeles held a 53-49 advantage at the half after shooting 59.5% from the field. LeBron James had 18 points at the break.
Bronny James drilled a 3-pointer with 1:38 left in the third quarter to put the Lakers ahead 82-67 before Golden State closed with six straight points to end the period.
The Lakers quickly gained control in the fourth quarter by making their first 10 shots from the field, including four of them from 3-point range.
LeBron James finished 11-for-17 from the floor, 3-for-5 from 3-point range, before heading to the bench with 6:05 left and the Lakers holding a 106-81 lead.
