Behind hot shooting from Klay Thompson and a crucial lineup change, the Golden State Warriors hammered the Los Angeles Lakers 127-100 to tie their Western Conference Aemifinals series at one game apiece.
Thompson scored 30 points on 11-18 shooting, including 8-11 from downtown. The 8 made threes marked the sixth time Thompson accomplished the feat, which is the most in league history.
The Lakers came out strong, taking a 33-26 at the end of the first quarter, with Lebron James was en fuego, scoring 14 of his 21 first half points in the frame while also adding 2 rebounds and 1 assist. The Warriors outscored the Lakers 41-23 in the second quarter in taking a 67-56 lead at the half.
Golden State the game open in a third quarter in which they outscored the Los Angeles 43-24 and took a 110-80 lead , making the last 12 minutes into extended garbage time.
Stephen Curry scored 20 points but dished out 12 assists. Draymond Green had a near triple-double, scoring 11 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out 9 assist. Green caused the Lakers problems catching the ball on a short roll drawing defenders and finding wide open shooters in instances that were familiar staples of previous championship Warriors teams. JaMychal Green was the recipient of several passes, as the decision to start Green in place of Kevon Looney paid dividends. He scored 15 points in his 12 minutes of action but his presence also had an adverse effect on the Lakers defense, with Davis and other Lakers front court players losing him in the corners as they were reluctant to leave the paint.
LeBron James’ box score may look good, scoring 23 points on 10/18 FG to go along with 7 rebounds and 3 assists, but only scored 2 points on 1/5 from the floor in a second half that his presence on the court was largely unnoticed.. After a dominant game 1, Anthony Davis faded into the background, scoring just 11 points on only 5/11 shooting and grabbing 7 rebounds. The other three Lakers starters- Austin Reeves, DeAngelo Russell and Jared Vanderbilt- combined to score 23 points on10/30 from the floor. Rui Hachimura was the only other Laker in double figures with 21 points.
With the series heading to Los Angeles, the Lakers will have to do a better job at defending the three point line ( Golden State shot 21-42 from downtown) and come up with a plan to deal with Draymond’s short rolls, as he and Stephen Curry were able to punish the Lakers with their passing.
