LeBron James (31 points), Anthony Davis (27) and Russell Westbrook (19) have their moments, but poor shooting and turnovers limit the Lakers in a 123-109 loss to the defending champions.
SAN FRANCISCO — Before their season opener, the Lakers had excitement and hunger in their voices. They saw an opportunity to make a statement, to knock off the defending champions on their own celebratory night.
Still, the Lakers clung to some hope. LeBron James had 31 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, Anthony Davis had 27 points and Russell Westbrook had 19 points and 11 rebounds. A thunderous dunk by Westbrook cut what was once a 27-point lead to 12 points with five minutes left, giving a faint whiff of upset potential.
Before making his head coaching debut, Darvin Ham revealed a late surprise: He started Westbrook after using the 33-year-old off the bench in the preseason finale in Sacramento. Westbrook had some strong moments, and his 11 rebounds helped the credibility of some of the Lakers’ smaller lineups that struggled on the glass during preseason play.
The game started later than scheduled thanks to the pomp of the Warriors’ championship celebration, which featured fireworks, spouting flames and speeches for a franchise that now has seven total championships – four with the Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green core.
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