Skip to content

LeBron James suffers groin injury as Los Angeles Lakers thrash Golden State Warriors

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of the Los Angeles Lakers' visit to the Golden State Warriors in week 11 of the NBA

LeBron James left early with a groin injury as the Los Angeles Lakers thrashed the Golden State Warriors 127-101 at Oracle Arena.

Game leaders

Los Angeles Lakers

  • Points: Kyle Kuzma - 19
  • Assists: Rajan Rondo - 10
  • Rebounds: LeBron James 13

 

Golden State Warriros

  • Points: Andre Iguodala - 23
  • Assists: Kevin Durant - 7
  • Rebounds: Kevin Durant - 7

Kyle Kuzma scored 19 points as the Lakers ended a seven-game losing streak against the defnding NBA champions on Tuesday night.

LeBron James reacts after leaving the game with a groin injury
Image: LeBron James reacts after leaving the game with a groin injury

Ivica Zubac had 18 points and 11 rebounds and James had 17 points and 13 rebounds before leaving the game with 7:51 left in the third quarter and the Lakers leading 71-57.

Rajon Rondo had 15 points and 10 assists off the bench, Brandon Ingram scored 14 points, Josh Hart had 12 points and fellow reserve Lance Stephenson finished with 11 points for the Lakers.

Andre Iguodala scored a season-high 23 points, Kevin Durant had 21 points and Stephen Curry finished with 15 points for Golden State.

Get NBA news on your phone
Get NBA news on your phone

Want the latest NBA news, features and highlights on your phone? Find out more

The Lakers had lost 11 in a row at Golden State.

The Lakers scored the first four points of the third quarter to take their biggest lead at 69-50 and were still well ahead when James left the game with the groin injury.

Also See:

Christmas Day scores

  • Philadelphia 76ers 114-121 Boston Celtics (OT)
  • Los Angeles Lakers 127-101 Golden State Warriors
  • Oklahoma City Thunder 109-113 Houston Rockets
  • Milwaukee Bucks 109-95 New York Knicks
  • Portland Trail Blazers 96-117 Utah Jazz

The Warriors used an 8-0 run to pull as close as 76-73 on a basket by Durant with 3:22 left in the third quarter, but the Lakers scored the final five points of the quarter to move back ahead by nine points entering the fourth.

Rondo and Zubac made baskets to start the fourth to move the lead into double figures at 95-82, and the Lakers led by as much as 18 with 7:35 left.

LeBron James elevates for a lay-up against Golden State
Image: LeBron James elevates for a lay-up against Golden State

The Lakers ended the first quarter on a 12-2 run to take a 32-25 lead entering the second.

The Warriors scored the first four points of the second quarter to pull within three, but the Lakers took a 46-35 lead on a three-pointer from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with 7:07 left in the second quarter.

Los Angeles moved out to its biggest lead of the half at 60-45 on a slam dunk by James with 1:59 left in the first half and took a 65-50 lead into the break.

Sky Sports is the home of the NBA in the UK with live coverage throughout the week, including selected live games free to all Sky subscribers via Sky Sports Mix. www.skysports.com/nba will be your home for news, reports, video and features throughout the season while you can follow us @SkySportsNBA