South Bay Lakers win home opener vs. Santa Cruz Warriors 127-123
The South Bay Lakers start their young season 2-0, both wins against a gritty Santa Cruz Warriors team.
The South Bay Lakers home opener against the Santa Cruz Warriors was charged from the beginning. Travis Wear had hit the game-winning shot to send the game into overtime. The Lakers eventually beat the Warriors 138-135. Wear has been specializing in the three, he hit two right out of the gate in game 2 against the Warriors.
Notable players on the Warriors included Cleanthony Early (Witchita State) who played with Wear on the New York Knicks in 2014-15. Also playing for the Warriors, Quinn Cook (Duke) and Damian Jones (Vanderbilt) who is 7-foot and 240 pounds was on assignment from the Golden State Warriors.
Lakers were up most of the first quarter but turnovers were keeping the Warriors in the game. I think we counted a handful of missed layups in the course of five minutes. The Lakers were really missing Vander Blue tonight who was on assignment to the Los Angeles Lakers who lost to the Boston Celtics 107-96.
Alex Caruso’s shot was off in the first half, shooting eight and making two.
Los Angeles Lakers
Thomas Bryant wowed the crowd with a number of exciting and demonstrative dunks. The Lakers ended the first quarter ahead two points, 34-32.
IT was obvious that Bryant and Caruso have played and practiced many minutes together, they had a series which seemed like they played it with their eyes closed, a give and go to the basket. Caruso passed the ball to Bryant to his hip and by some miracle, he caught it, turned around and dunked the ball.
The third quarter was abysmal. The Lakers went down by 18 points. Everyone was missing shots on the Lakers, and it seemed the Warriors couldn’t miss.
Back-to-back monstrous dunks by Caruso and Bryant and the Lakers were back in the game only down 11, 94-83 in the fourth quarter with four minutes and some change. Maybe it was the man-to-man defense? Or Alex hitting a three-pointer to make it a ten point game and it stayed that way for the rest of the third quarter, 102-92.
Scott Machado came alive in the fourth quarter. Sterling the ball, passing the ball, shot the ball, you name it! He scored 15 points and dished 8 assists in the second half alone. The Warriors also got into foul trouble, Jones (5) and Sutherland (4).
This game came down to the wire with Quinn Cook and Bryant exchanging threes, add into that mix Caruso and an airball three from Cook.
In the end, a rebound attempt by Wear and then the turnover forced by Bryant sealed the deal, and he got fouled in the process. Bryant made both free throws with .3 left on the clock the Lakers were up 127 to 123 over the Warriors.
Not much could be done, Lakers won! They are now 2-0 on the season logging back to back exciting games against the Warriors.
After the game, we got some quality time Thomas Bryant and Alex Caruso. Bryant gives us his opinion of the waffles in Vegas, so this is a must see! We included highlights as well. It’s easy to see just how much chemistry these two have on the court.
Here are your leaders of the game:
- Thomas Bryant: 30 points, eight rebounds
- Alex Caruso: 29 points, seven assists
- Scott Machado:19 points, eight assists
- V.J. Beachem: 17 points
- Travis Wear: Double-double, 15 points, 10 rebounds
Next: South Bay Lakers Media Day, Waffles and more
The South Bay Lakers welcome the Austin Spurs on Saturday at 7:00 and then the Texas Legends at 5:00 on Sunday. Both games will be played at the UCLA Health Training Center.