FILE – LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of a basketball game at Staples Center on October 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/AFP
Content to be spectators at the NBA trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors hope to demonstrate why standing pat was prudent when they continue their rivalry Saturday night in San Francisco.
The Lakers had been expected by many to make a move Thursday in an effort to turn things in a positive direction after a 26-30 start.
Russell Westbrook #0 reacts with Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on February 09, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFP
Los Angeles, however, elected to retain struggling Russell Westbrook — and everyone else — on Thursday, one day after a disappointing 107-105 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka explained that his team’s 30 losses have been more than one guy’s doing.
“If you’re not having success or if you reach a hard period, you’ve got to look in the mirror,” Pelinka said. “I think that’s all of us. Look in the mirror, be better, play harder, care more about the guy next to you. Those are all things that we can do.”
Westbrook sat out the Portland game with tightness in his lower back and watched the Lakers commit 21 turnovers that turned into 28 points for the Trail Blazers.
LeBron James had a game-high six turnovers on a night when he also led all scorers with 30 points.
“Every time we turned the ball over, it was almost like pick-sixes. We didn’t get a tackle and they basically ran it in for a touchdown every time,” James said. “That’s not the ingredients for winning basketball.”
The Lakers haven’t seen the Warriors since Opening Night, when Golden State went to Los Angeles and escaped with a 121-114 victory. James had 34 points on a night when Westbrook’s nightmarish season began with a 4-for-13 performance from the floor and just eight points.
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors warms up before a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 09, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Alex Goodlett/Getty Images/AFP
Stephen Curry put up a 21-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist performance for the Warriors, although he shot just 5-for-21.
Like the Lakers, however, the Warriors have lost their last two games, including a 116-114 shocker at home to the New York Knicks on Thursday night.
Golden State had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Klay Thompson could not connect on an open 13-footer with under one second to play.
It didn’t take long after the defeat for Thompson to turn his attention to the Lakers, with whom his father, Mychel, was a player and later a broadcaster.
“I always get excited to play the Lakers,” Thompson said. “Some of my best memories of life are just going with my dad when I was in high school, sitting with him in his booth and watching him call the games. Watching Kobe (Bryant) play. It’s always awesome playing your hometown team.”
Thompson, who attended Santa Margarita High before heading north to Washington State, has averaged 20.1 points in 31 career encounters against the Lakers. He had 44 points in a win in Los Angeles on Jan. 21, 2019, and 41 in a home victory on Nov. 1, 2014.