Warriors beat Lakers, 121-106, look to even series in LA Friday
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT PhilBoxing.com Fri, 12 May 2023
Chase Center (San Francisco, CA)
With their backs against the ropes, behind 3-1 on the judges’ score cards, and on the verge being knocked out at home, Golden State repulsed Los Angeles, 121-106, Wednesday at Chase Center.
Draymond Green, the Dubs’ on-and-off-the-court general, turned in a smashing double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists), powering the reigning and defending 2021-22 NBA titlists past LeBron James and company.
“You just gotta keep fighting and knowing that this team is going to come out and give us their best punch and you gotta take that punch and respond. And if you respond they will punch again and you have to respond again. If you can do that then the game tends to flip your way… We're champions, so there's pressure every time you step on the floor,” Green summarized and added, “You go out there, (&) you don't win, people are ready to crush you. People forget about the things that you've done in the past.”
Stephen Curry cooked 27 points (3 rebounds, 8 assists) with another dazzling show from near and afar.
Said Curry: “Yeah, a defensive mindfulness was there. Obviously Draymond was extremely aggressive from the jump. Wiggs played amazing. GP, plus 25. Like you get contributions from everybody and shots that you feel like you can make and the reason you take 'em, a lot of confidence in 'em. You hope that they will start to fall. But the fact that we can control a game from the jump the way we did, handle that run the way we did and then close out the fourth quarter strong was exactly how we expect to play. And it's just a matter of can we take it on the road and win a must-win game on Friday.”
Not to be outdone, Andrew Wiggins turned in his best play-off performance with 25 points (7 rebounds, 5 assists).
Said Andrew Wiggins: “I was locked in. The whole team was. It was ‘do or die’ now. So, we had nothing to lose but to fight.
Gary Payton II displayed his worth on offense and defense with 13 points to make up for the tepid Jordan Poole (11 points) and Klay Thompson (10 points).
Collectively, Golden State made 47-of-92 baskets (51.1% FG), sniped 13-of-35 treys (37.1% 3-PT), sank 14-of-15 free throws (93.3%FT), controlled both boards by out rebounding the Lakers (48-to-38), blocked more shots (5-to-4), had more steals (8-to-6), and led by as much as 18 points.
By contrast, Los Angeles were competitive, even erasing an 11-point Warrior halftime lead (70-59), only to falter late… making 42-of-87 baskets (48.3% FG), sinking 20-of-27 treys (37% 3-PT), and led by as few as only 3 points.
LeBron James tallied 25 points (9 rebounds), D’ Anthony Davis dropped 23 points (9 rebounds) then went to the locker room after getting accidentally elbowed by Kevon Looney in the paint after D'Angelo Russell (15 points) made a layup with 7:43 remaining.
Dennis Schroeder contributed 14 and Austin Reaves 15 points.
Both teams were statistically tied in assists (29 GSW, 24 LAL) and were equally successful attacking the basket (50 GSW and 52 LAL points in the paint).
The Western Conference Semi-Final (Game 6) will be played in Los Angeles on Friday night.
Note of Appreciation:
The collage photos, statistics and quotes in this article are courtesy of the NBA, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and brought to you by PhilBoxing.com.
