Gasol, Young propel Lakers past Warriors 102-95
By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
Associated Press - Saturday, November 23, 2013
OS ANGELES (AP) -- Pau Gasol and Nick Young did a remarkable job keeping the Los Angeles Lakers together without their two injured stars.
The Golden State Warriors had better take notes, because their injury problems just got worse.
Gasol had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Young scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half, and the Lakers took advantage of Stephen Curry's absence for a 102-95 victory over Golden State on Friday night.
Jordan Farmar and Steve Blake scored 14 points apiece as Los Angeles returned from four days off to win consecutive games for the first time all season.
Jordan Hill added 10 points and nine rebounds as the Lakers clicked even without Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, hitting 11 3-pointers and outworking the prolific Warriors down the stretch. Los Angeles calmly maintained a big lead throughout the fourth quarter of its 11th straight home win over its upstate rival since March 2008.
''We're finally finding some consistency,'' Gasol said. ''We're finally putting good efforts mentally and physically together.''
Gasol had a big offensive game at an opportune time: The Spanish 7-footer pledged $1,000 for every point he scored against the Warriors to UNICEF disaster relief in the Philippines.
Gasol acknowledged thinking about his pledge with every basket, and he began the evening with another concern after hearing news of his brother Marc's sprained left knee in Memphis.
''I had too many things on my mind,'' Gasol said. ''I definitely had that motivation of scoring tonight for the Philippines. Once I started knocking down those outside shots, it opened things up for me.''
David Lee had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and Harrison Barnes scored 20 points in the Warriors' second straight loss without Curry, who missed both games with a concussion.
Golden State then lost Andre Iguodala, who replaced Curry as the Warriors' point guard. Iguodala had six points and six assists before limping to the locker room in the third quarter with a left hamstring injury.
''Once I heard a pop, I knew it was serious,'' Iguodala said. ''This one kind of worries me a little bit. I'll take it serious, I'm sure. ... I'm not even
DOWNLOAD HIGH