The Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning streak to three games with a 105-99 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night at crypto.com Arena, and head coach JJ Redick highlighted execution and decision-making during his postgame press conference.
LeBron James finished with 20 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, while Rui Hachimura scored 18 and Austin Reaves added 16 as the California club improved to 32-19, fifth in the Western Conference standings.
Redick pointed to a key fourth-quarter sequence after the Bay Area side cut the lead to one possession, explaining how his group regained control. “Yeah, a lot happened that game. I’m not sure what happened right after that timeout… Luke hit a three and then I think he got the pass to Vanderbilt going to the timeout.”
The head coach emphasized the response after defensive lapses and turnovers. “Well, you know, I think we were up 10 or 11 and had a couple really good looks that I felt could could push it. Gave up gave up a back cut on a layup, couple threes. Just responded well.”
According to Redick, Golden State’s defensive schemes created challenges throughout the night. “They’re a really good defense and they do a really good job of pressuring you and being disruptive and I don’t know, don’t want this is not a negative, but like junking the game up with, you know, changing defenses. Draymond just naturally junks the game up because he’s so smart and he sniffs everything out.”
Los Angeles leaned on ball movement rather than isolation offense, especially with Luka Doncic sidelined by a mild hamstring strain. “It really became more about, you know, what we were trying to get on a possession and who we were trying to get it with,” Redick said.
Luke Kennard, acquired from Atlanta on Thursday, scored 10 points in his debut and delivered a key corner three during an 11-0 run. Redick praised the newcomer’s decision-making: “You can see with Luke in particular, just his ability to just make reads and make plays and it’s not, you know, he’s not a guy you’re going to like give the ball to and ISO and then he’s going to, you know, bend the defense. But he’s a smart basketball player and he knows how to play and he knows how to make reads.”
The coach also credited Maxi Kleber’s physical presence after another strong plus-minus performance. “Yeah, just doing again I think the group the last two games and Maxi’s certainly led on this but the group the last two games just doing what is necessary to win that game… he’s again he’s just a pro and he’s going to be in the mix in terms of his physicality and rebounding.”
Redick described Kennard’s integration into the offense and how quickly he absorbed the system. “I watched like a full offensive and defensive edit yesterday of him. And then we obviously simultaneously sent him an edit of all our defensive and offensive concepts, plays, sets, coverages, all that.”
Golden State, led by Moses Moody’s 25 points, struggled from long range, shooting 14 of 51 (27.5%) without Stephen Curry, who missed his third straight game with a knee injury.
