The Los Angeles Lakers came into Barclays Center to face the Brooklyn Nets. The Lakers have just taken a beating from Jimmy Butler and the Heat on Thursday. Therefore, they were aiming to get back on the right track. In a game with much intensity, the lake show was in full effect from start to finish.
The Lakers came out on a roll, taking an early 11-point lead. With just about three minutes to go in the first, the Nets were able to pull within 5. Although neither team was shooting that much different from the field or from downtown, the Lakers had a better momentum going. They were 54% from the field and 42% from three. On the other hand, the Nets shot 42% from the field and 30% from deep. As a result, the Lakers went into the second quarter, leading the Nets 33-25.
Much of the second quarter was a back-and-forth game. The Lakers led by 10 four different times, but the Nets had an answer each time. Toward the end of the quarter, it was all tied up at 52, forcing the Lakers to take a timeout. They did not have a response, though. Their defense allowed a dunk by Kevin Durant, which gave the Nets their first lead of the game. That did not last long as the Lakers went into the half up 61-58.
Not even a minute into the third quarter, the Nets came within 2. A few possessions later, things suddenly turned around. Both Kyrie Irving and Dennis Schroder, who had exceptional performances for their team, got ejected. Irving had 18 points, and Schroder racked up 16 before heading to the locker room. Nonetheless, the show had to go on. The Lakers kept their energy going in light of Schroder’s absence. At the end of the quarter, the score was 92-77.
Eventually, the Lakers’ lead blew to 27 early in the fourth quarter. Although the Nets tried chipping away, their attempts would be unsuccessful. By the time it hit the 2-minute mark, the Lakers took their largest lead of the game, going up by 28. The Nets chipped three points off of it, but that was it. The Lakers were nearly 60% from behind the arc in the fourth. On the other hand, the Nets were a grim 13%. Even with Irving on the court, the Lakers came out with their foot on the gas from the get-go. His absence added fuel to their fire, and in the long run, they upset the Nets 126-101.
Schroder noted that he apologized to his teammates for not being out there with them. Still, he gave them a seal of approval for the way they kept going in order to get a win.
“The second half they got some stops defensively, went out in transition, passed the ball quick, threw open threes,” he said. “Everybody stepped up big time.”
For Coach Nash, this loss was a learning experience.
“I thought that they were the aggressor and more physical,” he said. “We didn’t match their physicality and competitive fire,” he added. “They played harder than us and it’s a great lesson for us.”
Up Next:
Both teams will take the court again on Monday, April 12th. The Lakers will face the Knicks at 7:30 pm. The Nets will take on the Timberwolves at 8:00 pm.
