When the Los Angeles Lakers boarded their charter flight on Friday it was with the expectation LeBron James would be on the court for his second game since returning from a groin strain. The moment would provide an opportunity for revenge of sorts as they were set to play at Oracle Arena, where James was injured.
But he was a late scratch due to soreness, and the young Lakers were left to pick up the slack against the two-time defending champions. The Golden State Warriors jumped out to a 14-point lead, only to watch it evaporate.
The Lakers pulled ahead by 10 points in the third quarter, which didn’t hold in a 115-101 loss.