Five takeaways from the Lakers' victory over the Golden State Warriors

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Nick Young celebrates after hitting a three during the second quarter of the Lakers’ game Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Carlos Boozer draws a crowd of Golden State defenders during the first quarter of the Lakers’ 115-105 win over the Warriors. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Carlos Boozer drives to the basket against Golden State forward David Lee during the second quarter. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Jordan Hill goes to the hoop against Warriors defenders Festus Ezeli, left, and Harrison Barnes during the first quarter. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Jeremy Lin shouts out instructions to his teammates during a game Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Golden State guard Stephen Curry puts up a shot against Lakers forward Ed Davis during the first half of a game Tuesday at Staples Center. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Nick Young reaches for a rebound in front of Golden State forward Marreese Speights during the first half of a game Tuesday at Staples Center. Young had 11 points off the bench in the first half. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Nick Young celebrates after scoring a basket and getting fouled by the Warriors during the second quarter. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers forward Ed Davis dunks the ball during the second quarter of a game Tuesday against the Warriors. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers’ 2014 draft pick Jordan Clarkson was a member of the NBA all-rookie team. Who the Lakers select this year will be based on Tuesday’s draft lottery.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Carlos Boozer argues a call during the first quarter of a game Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers rookie Jordan Clarkson dunks the ball during the first half of a game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday at Staples Center. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Wesley Johnson drives to the basket against Warriors forward Marreese Speights during the first quarter. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Wayne Ellington has a shot blocked by Klay Thompson of Golden State during the first quarter of the Lakers’ 115-105 win Tuesday at Staples Center. (Robyn Beck / Getty Images)

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Jeremy Lin passes over Golden State Warriors guard Shaun Livingston during the first half of a game Tuesday at Staples Center. (Paul Buck / EPA)

By Eric Pincus

Dec. 24, 2014 6:42 AM PT

The Lakers (9-19) upset the Golden State Warriors (23-4), despite playing without Kobe Bryant. Here are five takeaways from their 115-105 victory on Tuesday at Staples Center.

1. Are the Lakers better without Kobe Bryant? One game doesn’t answer that question, but in a sample size of one, the Lakers played arguably their best team game of the year. Seven players hit double figures, led by Carlos Boozer’s 18, and the Warriors seemed overwhelmed by the Lakers’ defensive energy.

Bryant is one of the more unique players in NBA history. If the team can find a way to mesh his individual gifts as a scorer, with the passionate team play they put on display Tuesday, perhaps they’ll be able to finish out the season respectably -- although that balance has been elusive to date.

2. Ed Davis hit all seven of his shots from the field. Boozer missed just three of 11 attempts. The Lakers shot 51.7% from the field as a team against a Warriors squad that outscores opponents by a league-best 9.5 points a night.

3. Perhaps the Lakers should re-sign Vlade Divac (now 46 years old). The center won $90,000 to share evenly with the Divac Children’s Foundation and Lakers Youth Foundation, after sinking a half-court shot between the third and fourth quarters. (Did Robert Horry call it a “lucky shot” on the television broadcast?)

4. The Lakers survived Stephen Curry, who scored 22 points on an effortless 10 of 14 shooting. Defensively, the Lakers couldn’t get him to miss but they did force him into a game-high seven turnovers. The Warriors had 20 as a team, many caused by Jeremy Lin and Ronnie Price, with three steals apiece.

5. The team used its fourth different starting lineup in their 28th game. Last season, Coach Mike D’Antoni juggled 35 different starting groups, primarily reacting to injuries. The Lakers have been down Steve Nash, Julius Randle, Xavier Henry and Ryan Kelly for most of the season -- a difficulty but more of a consistent one than last year’s struggle for the entire team to stay healthy. Ellington has now started 36 games through his career, but just one with the Lakers.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus

Five takeaways from the Lakers’ victory over the Golden State Warriors

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