Role players shine as Warriors beat Lakers without 3 All-Stars

During a second-quarter timeout Wednesday night, a capacity Oracle Arena crowd roared as Stephen Curry appeared on the big screen. There in block letters, emblazoned over the image of Curry in street clothes on the Warriors' bench, was a message wishing the two-time MVP a happy 30th birthday. It reinforced that, on a night meant to celebrate the face of the franchise, Golden State was trying to show it could win without him. In beating the Lakers 117-106 to snap just their second two-game skid of the season, the Warriors gave Curry a feel-good present: the reminder that Golden State is far more than its cast of superstars.