The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off what many analysts called a Holiday Miracle, after they defeated the NBA best team Golden State Warriors 115-105 for the first time in three tries with superstar Kobe Bryant watching on the sidelines on Tuesday at Staples Center.
The Lakers, who lost three consecutive games and dropped the first two meetings to the red-hot Warriors, delivered perhaps their best game all season long and they did it without their best scorer on the floor.
Averaging 24.6 points per game this season, the 36-year old Bryant took a day off on Tuesday after logging 34 minutes per game over the last five games, including a 38-minute outing against the Sacramento Kings last Sunday.
Carlos Boozer led way with 18 points and 9 rebounds while Ronnie Price tallied 17 points, 8 assists and 3 steals for the Lakers, who never conceded the lead since the 3:08 mark of the first quarter.
There was no doubt the crowd inside Staples Center was expecting another massacre after bowing out to the Warriors 127-104 in their first meeting 136-115 in their second head-to-head clash. But the Lakers befuddled the Warriors defense with better ball movement and excellent teamwork on both ends of the floor.
The Lakers, who ranked 20th in the league in average assists per game at 20.6 dimes, dished out 28 assists on 46 field goals against the Warriors and beat them across all statistical departments (42-39 in rebounds), (11-8 in steals) and (10-2 in block shots).
Nick Young, who recorded 15 points on team-high 13 shot attempts, believes Bryant's absence allowed his teammates to execute offensive sets where everybody was touching the ball and finding the open man for easy baskets.
"Some guys just played like 'Django Unchained' -- they were free tonight," Young said of their terrific play without their leading scorer via ESPN LA Baxter Holmes. "Pretty much going to have to tell Kobe to pass me the ball, pass us the ball," Young said. "Tell him to take the backseat for a little bit. He can be 'Driving Miss Daisy' and I can be Miss Daisy and drive."
Meanwhile, the 26-year old Lin thinks their win against the Warriors thought them well about trusting each other, adding that passing the ball is key to victory.
"We learned that we've got to definitely move the ball, make it quick, snappy," said Lin, who recorded 11 points, 5 assists and three steals in 25 minutes off the bench.
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