Lakers vs. Warriors: In-Game Report

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Lakers 124, Warriors 118 (final)

The Lakers had their hands full with the Golden State Warriors, falling behind by 15 points, sleepwalking for much of the game, giving up points with ease.

Since the Lakers weren’t going to play enough defense, they just turned to their offense and it took them home.

That meant that Kobe Bryant had to score a season-high 44 points. Bryant also had 11 assists.

It meant that Pau Gasol had to score 27 points and claim 12 rebounds.

The Lakers’ horrible defense allowed the Warriors to make 55.4% of their shots.

Lakers 88, Warriors 86 (third quarter) The Lakers showed some life, finally, in the third quarter, reeling off 35 points against the defensively challenged Warriors.

During halftime, Ron Artest spoke to reporters for the first time since the team sent out a news release saying the Lakers forward fell down stairs at home on Christmas night.

Artest said he was going up stairs outside his Beverly Hills home when he fell. The next thing he remembered was his wife, Kimsha, standing over him, he said.

Artest missed his third consecutive game because of a concussion but said he might play Friday against Sacramento.

Warriors 60, Lakers 53 (halftime)

Down 15 points in the second, the Lakers were forced to wake up from their slumber.

The Lakers got away from working the ball inside and paid the price.

When the Lakers went back inside to Pau Gasol, they began to cut their deficit, getting to within 48-42 on a Gasol basket. Gasol had 16 points in the first half.

But the Warriors, despite the pressure from the Lakers, didn’t fold.

They held on for a seven-point half-time lead.

Kobe Bryant had 17 first-half points.

Warriors 35, Lakers 29 (first quarter) The idea for the Lakers was to pound the ball inside against the Warriors.

That worked for the Lakers, as they scored 18 points in the paint. They went inside to Andrew Bynum (eight points) and Pau Gasol (10) and let them operate.

But the problem for the Lakers in the first quarter was their poor defense.

The Warriors shot 63.6% from the field, which helped them open an 11-point lead.

Corey Maggette led the Warriors with 10 points and Stephen Curry had nine points.

-- Broderick Turner