The Los Angeles Lakers stunned the Golden State Warriors with a 118-108 victory on Saturday night at Chase Center, and a huge part of their success was keeping Stephen Curry scoreless in the second half. So how did the Lakers manage this defensive feat? According to LeBron James, the strategy was simple—“Just hope that he misses.”
Yep, you heard that right. LeBron, with his usual wit, summed it up perfectly: “Put bodies in front of him and you just hope he miss.” While that’s about as straightforward as it gets, there’s no denying the Lakers’ defense was on point. Curry went 0-8 from the field after halftime, marking the first time in his career he failed to score after taking that many shots in a half.
Despite Curry’s struggles, he still managed to dish out nine assists and two steals, but his shooting performance was a rare low for the 36-year-old, who finished with just 13 points (4-17 FG) on the night. The Lakers deserve major credit for stifling the two-time MVP.
LeBron didn’t go into too much detail about the defense, but Lakers coach JJ Redick shared a little more insight: “Just staying in front, having a stick hand up, not allowing separation… We did a great job on and off the ball.” The team’s discipline in executing the game plan was critical in locking down Curry.
Curry, not one to shy away from self-reflection, admitted the Lakers’ defense frustrated him: “They were trying to funnel us to crowd… their length, their size, it really bothered us,” he said. “I didn’t do that tonight.” The Warriors’ inability to adjust led to their fourth loss in five games, dropping them to 22-23 on the season—a tough spot for the defending champs.
On the other side, the Lakers are riding high with momentum, winning five of their last six games to improve to 25-18. LeBron finished with 25 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds, while Anthony Davis put on a monster performance with 36 points, 13 rebounds, and three steals, leading the charge.
With this dominant win, the Lakers are feeling good heading into their Grammy road trip, and they’ll be looking to keep the momentum rolling against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. This game was a perfect start, but for Curry and the Warriors, it’s back to the drawing board.
