Lakers’ second act falls flat in 125-94 loss at Golden State

OAKLAND — The Lakers began their “Rest Nash� plan, but the whole team could have sat this one out.

Looking nothing like the frantically energized bunch that stunned the Clippers on opening night, the Lakers allowed Golden State within whispering distance of its largest victory ever against them.

Klay Thompson had a career-high 38 points and the Warriors pummeled the Lakers, 125-94, Wednesday at Oracle Arena.

The lead was as large as 35 before the Warriors’ starters sat for good, sparing the Lakers the possibility of experiencing their biggest blowout here (132-93 in 1966).

The Lakers have traditionally played well against Golden State, winning 13 of their last 16 in Oakland and not losing the season series since 1994-95, but there was nothing traditional or well about them Wednesday.

No 76-point outburst from the reserves on a night that Steve Nash sat out because the Lakers don’t want him playing consecutive nights.

No defense at all, the Lakers freely and generously letting Thompson, a shooting guard, make 15 of 19 shots, including five of seven from three-point range.

And there wasn’t much from Pau Gasol, who played a marginal part in the game with 12 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes.

Nash, 39, had three points and five assists in 21 minutes against the Clippers but didn’t play against the Warriors.

“You just hate to lose him, but he’s at the stage of his career where you’ve got to be cautious and we need to move it along slowly, make sure that as we go forward he’s ready to go all year,� Lakers Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We don’t want any setbacks early.�

Nash has a chronically sore back and has been bothered by a sore ankle and stiff neck of late.

Nash suited up but would have played only if Steve Blake or Jordan Farmar were injured. The Lakers will look at the schedule as their season progresses and determine whether Nash sits out the first or second game of consecutive nights. They have 19 back-to-backs this season, including one next week in Houston and New Orleans.

Blake started for Nash and had 10 points on four-for-13 shooting. He wasn’t alone in the poor-shooting department.

Nick Young missed seven of nine shots and Xavier Henry and Wesley Johnson each missed seven of 11.

Maybe the Lakers put too much stock into their 116-103 victory over the Clippers.

“We probably got up too high,� D’Antoni said. “Klay Thompson just lit us up. We’ve just got to get better in all areas and get our emotions under control. It’s not overconfidence. You come out so hyped up the night before that your body responds by being down.�

Said Gasol: “We didn’t really create any energy for ourselves, there was no communication and on a back-to-back, you’ve just got to do that. If we’re not at the top of our game defensively and offensively, we’re going to get beat. And badly.�

As the Warriors closed in on a 34-point third-quarter lead, Andre Iguodala wrapped a behind-the-back pass to David Lee, who tapped it back to him for an easy fastbreak layup. The crowd went wild.

It wasn’t all bad for the Lakers. Free chicken nuggets were offered to Warriors fans if the Lakers shot under 75% from the free-throw line. They made 76%.

And Thompson’s father is Mychal, the Lakers’ radio color commentator.

Other than denied nuggets and a privately proud parent, there wasn’t much for the Lakers to cheer.

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Twitter: @Mike_Bresnahan