NBA: Lakers lose two in row as the Warriors are back to winning ways

(Basketball news) The Los Angeles Lakers dreadful season continued as they lost 114-103 against the Toronto Raptors. For the Raptors, Scottie Barnes scored 15 of his 21 points in the first quarter as Gary Trent Jr. had 28 points and Pascal Siakam scored 27 for their fourth straight victory. For the Lakers, LeBron James had 30 points and nine rebounds, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony each scored 14 points as Wenyen Gabriel grabbed a career-high nine rebounds. The Lakers have allowed 100 points in 16 straight games as they are 4-12 in that span. With this result the Raptors moved to 7th in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 38-30.

''It was a great, great start,'' Toronto coach Nick Nurse said. ''And then it was kind of weird from there, but it was good to get off to a good start like that.''

''Especially kind of early on, you get an open shot that everyone pretty much expects you to make and you don't make it, it's kind of frustrating,'' Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker said.

''I really just try to run, get those easy baskets,'' Barnes said. ''I just came out there and was being aggressive, really just trying to get to my spots.''

The Golden State Warriors are back to winnings as they defeated the Washington Wizards 126-112. For the Warriors, Curry dazzled all night on the way to 47 points on his 34th birthday as reigning scoring champion Curry shot 16 for 25 with seven 3-pointers, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole scored 20 apiece. For the Wizards, Kristaps Porzingis scored 25 points and Kenatavious Caldwell-Pope 19 in the Wizards' fourth straight loss, fifth of six and sixth in a row on the road. With this result Warriors have now four in a row and have improved their record to 47-22 and sit level with the Memphis Grizzlies in second spot in the Western Conference standings.

''I think what it did for him is what it did for all of us. You could tell the energy picked up,'' Curry said. ''It's not anything more than what's built on 10 years of experience and chemistry and winning and an understanding of how we do things. No matter how much time we have off, we can get right back to it.

''It is crazy to think for the first time me, Klay and Draymond had been on the court in a very, very long time. We want to keep building on that. We know each other like the back of our hand, we complement each other very well.''

''You heard the crowd when he checked in. Draymond has been our heart and soul for a long time,'' Kerr said. ''He's beloved here in the Bay.''

Also read: NBA: Suns thrash hapless Lakers while 76ers win in overtime

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