Lakers make history with stunning upset of Warriors
Fans in attendance at Staples Center on Sunday afternoon bared witness to the biggest regular-season upset in NBA history.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who began the day with a .190 winning percentage, shocked the basketball world by knocking off the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors (.917), 112-95.
Before L.A.'s win Sunday, no team in league history had overcome that large of a differential in winning percentage to earn a regular-season victory.
Even in defeat, the Warriors (55-6) maintain the strongest 61-game record any team has ever had as they continue their pursuit of a historic 73-9 campaign.
Los Angeles had lost 10 of its previous 11 games before taking down the champs, making the team's eventual win all the more unexpected. In fact, the Lakers' three prior losses against Golden State this season came by a combined 73 points, so it was clear why the Warriors were easily favored in what seemed like just another game on their path to immortality.
For a roster which essentially lives and dies from behind the arc, head coach Steve Kerr's group couldn't buy a bucket from 3-point range, going 4-of-30 (13.3 percent) from deep, the fourth-lowest percentage ever from the perimeter.
It wasn't just one player on the Lakers who lifted the team to victory on this occasion, as seven players scored in double figures, with Jordan Clarkson leading the way with 25 points, four 3-pointers, and two steals in 37 minutes of action.
Los Angeles also got big contributions from rookie D'Angelo Russell (21 points and five assists) and Julius Randle (12 points and 14 rebounds), with the team as a whole converting 47.1 percent of its field-goal attempts. Golden State shot 40.2 percent.
Kobe Bryant - who now has just 18 games remaining before he calls it a career - added 12 points of his own.
Related: Kobe throws sweet no-look dish to Randle for the jam
Trailing by 10 or more points after three quarters never bodes well for the Warriors, who fell to 0-5 on the season when down by double digits entering the fourth quarter. They were down 84-73 on the scoreboard Sunday.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 33 points on 13-of-40 shooting, while Draymond Green contributed seven of Golden State's 20 turnovers, which is the eighth time the team has had 20 or more all year.
The Warriors will return home to Oracle Arena on Monday to host the visiting Orlando Magic.
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