Play-In Warriors-Lakers live online: scores, stats, highlights, updates...
The most highly anticipated game of the inaugural Play-In Tournament did not disappoint. Two of the best teams over the last decade, two of the biggest stars in the game, and two teams battling for a playoff spot. The Lakers outlasted the Warriors with some late game heroics from LeBron James.
Warriors D kept the Lakers quiet in the first half
The first half was dominated by Golden State, who controlled the game with a steady dose defense that had the Lakers struggling to find good looks. LA went to the halftime break having scored just 42 points after two quarters.
The Lakers bit back right at the start of the second half, going on a 14-2 run to close the 13 point halftime gap to one.
LA forced Warriors into mistakes in the second half
It was Los Angeles who stepped up on defense in the final half, forcing Golden State to 15 turnovers over the third and fourth quarter.
Once the game was pulled to even mid way through the third quarter, each team had small runs to poke ahead, but the last minutes of the fourth quarter felt like a Game 7 in the Western Conference Semis.
LeBron with a triple double and the game winner
LeBron added another triple double to his collection, with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, but really came to life in the fourth quarter when the Lakers needed it. Davis led the Lakers in scoring with 25 points despite a first half where he was limited.
Steph Curry was incredible as always. The leagues scoring champion finished with 37 points while Andrew Wiggins followed with 21. But the Warrior duo didn’t get much help otherwise. Jordan Poole and Kent Bazemore were next on the list with just 10 points.
Conference Final feel in the Staples Center tonight
The fourth quarter was everything we were hoping to see when the matchup was announced after the regular season. There was nothing between the two teams for the final 12 minutes until LeBron hit a 30 foot buzzer beater with just under minute to go in the 4th quarter.
That would be the last basket of the ball game as the Lakers secured their spot in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Warriors will have to play the Memphis Grizzlies in a winner take all scenario on Sunday for the eighth seed in the West.
What a game we were treated to tonight from Los Angeles
It's all over from the Staples Center!!! The Lakers are on to the NBA Playoffs!
Timeout for Golden State with 2.1 seconds to go.
LeBron with a desperation three as the shot clock was about to expire
Curry fouled on the shot, hits two from the line. Curry has 37
Carruso finds Davis down low for the slam
2 minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
LeBron shakes off the blow to the face, goes to the line and splits the FTs
Green wtih a hard foul against LeBron. The refs review at the call and it's determined to be a regular foul.
Davis to the line, drops both free throws
2:30 to go in the 4th
Floater off the glass from Curry and the Warriors are up by 3
Poole with a three on the near side
Schroder stretching to the basket on the finger roll
Under five to go and were all square
Curry on the reverse!
Davis the offensive board, and the put back
Wiggins absorbs the contact and finishes in the paint. He's got 21. And were tied up in LA
Schroder back to the free throw line, knocks down one of two
Wiggins in transition of the LA turnover. He's got 19 on the night One point game, and the Lakers call a timeout with 6:24 to go.
Wiggins off the inbound with a dunk slashing to the iron,
7 minutes to go in the fourth
Davis hits a wide open three, Lakers up 5
Curry on the scoop off the glass, he's over 30 tonight.
Curry answers with a three, The Warriors needed that
Davis on the jump shot
Toscano-Anderson going to the line after the referees go to the replay, and turn the charge call around. One of two FTs made
LeBron from the baseline on the reverse.
LeBron on the drive on the right side and the Lakers starting to take control in the game. Timeout Golden State
Kuzma gives the Lakers the first lead of the night
Davis finishing with a flush to start the fourth. And were tied from LA
Carruso on drive finishes the third quarter, pulling the Lakers within 2 going into the fouth
Curry with yet another three, this one was nearly impossible
Davis with an alley oop, and the Staples Center is getting loud
LeBron from downtown
Wiggins on the tap in
Kuzma in tight spaces underneath the basket somehow found an angle to finish close to the basket. Timeout Warriors with just over a minute to go in the 3rd
Davis finishes off the fast break with a dunk
Curry on the backdoor cut, finds himself an open layup
Davis on the turnaround in the paint, gets the bucket and the foul, FT is good
Matthews answers back with a three
Curry with his fourth three of the game
Looney with the tip in
Drummond across the lane with the lay up
Looney in traffic down low
Timeout with 6:46 in the third
Bazemore in the near corner, stretches the lead back to 7
James on the far side with a long two
Wiggins on the step-back. He had been quiet since the first quarter
Curry hits all three after being fouled on the triple try.
Schroder with a three ball and we've got a one point game in LA
Caldwell-Pope again, this time from the charity stripe, hit two
Caldwell-Pope on the strong drive inside
James hits the free throw off the timeout break.
James on a rack attack, finishes and gets the foul. Timeout Warriors. The Lakers are looking much better in the second half. 10:30 to go in third quarter
Schroder back at the line again hits both
Schroder to the line, hits both for the first points of the second halt
Just 42 points for the Lakers in the first half
Curry with a deeeeeeep buzzer beater, as end the first half on fire from outside. He's got 15 points
Schroder finally gets a bucket after an 0-8 start
Toscano-Anderson with a triple try, he's got 8 points
Carruso going strong to the rack, he's got 12
A minute to go in the first half
James goes one of two from the line
Poole bangs home a three and LA needs a timeout
Carruso on the steal and the score
2:30 to go in the first half
Curry back to back three balls
Davis from the mid range
Curry for three, his first one of the night
Carruso with the deep ball
Poole getting back to the rim and he's got a couple consecutive
Curry to the line hits one of two
Poole on the drive laying up with the right hand
Harrell on the strong dribble and dunk
Kuzma driving right to left down the lane
Tosacano-Anderson in transition with the finger roll. Timeout Lakers with 7:38 to go in the second quarter
Wiggins spnning to the bucket and finishing
Harrell to the line, splits the pair
Mulder answers with a three
Horton-Tucker at the top of the key for three
The first quarter comes to an end with the Warriors up by 6
Harrell splits a coulple free throws
Toscano-Anderson in the near corner for three
Davis down low
Curry finishes on the reverse, and gets the foul. FT is good
Looney on the baseline with the dunk
Technical on Draymond Green, Davis hits the one FT
Carruso with the left handed finish in transition. He's got 5 off the bench
Bazemore hits one of two from the line
Draymond Green to the line, drops two of two
Carruso nails the wide open three from the near side
Caldwell-Pope connects on the triple, he starts off 2 for 2 from downtown
Curry banks in a floater
LeBron goes back to the line, after getting fouled on the inside. He knocks down one of two
James goes to the line, and hits both
Caldwell-Pope hits a three in the corner, snapping the Warriors run
Wiggins from the far corner
Bazemore connects on the long ball. Timeout Lakers
LeBron following of the boards with a tap in for his first points of the night
Looney sinks the short jumper
Wiggins from the mid range this time
Bazemore from downtown
Drummond underneath
Wiggins with the opening bucket of the game
We are just moments away from tip off from the Staples Center
The Warriors have only lost 5 games since April 10th, they are 15-5 since then.
Both teams come into tonight on win streaks, LA has won their last five while Golden State have rattled off six in a row
Curry has scored 30 points or more in 21 of his last 24 games
Curry won his second NBA scoring title after scoring 46 points in the Warriors win over the Grizzlies. Curry edged Washington's Bradley Beal as he had 32 ppg
LeBron said of Steph, ""We get caught up in the records sometimes and who has the best record as opposed to who had the best season that year. Steph has had, in my opinion, the best season all year."
Leading up to the game, LeBron tipped Steph Curry to take home the NBA MVP award, despite the Warriors record
The winner of tonight's game will lock up the 7 seed in the West and take on the second placed Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs
The Warriors averaged 27.7 assists per game which was the best mark in the NBA
Speaking of LeBron, he was one of the most outspoken about being against the induction of the Play-In Tournament at the end of the regular season
LeBron played just 27 minutes against New Orleans before leaving with soreness in that ankle that has been bothering him in the last half of the season. Word out of the Lakers camp is The King is good to go.
The Warriors and the Lakers have been rivals for 72 years, although this will be the first time they play each other in a format like we are going to see tonight.
The one Warriors win came in January, when Golden State had a huge comeback, making up for a 14 point gap to stun the Lakers to take the game 115-113
The Lakers lead the season series 2-1, with their last win coming in Mid March. Montrezl Harrell led the Lakers in scoring with 27 points
Hello everyone and welcome to the Stales Center, for the spotlight matchup of the inaugural Play-In Tournament. AS English will be bringing you live coverage, updates, highlights and stats throughout the entirety of Golden State Warriors - Los Angeles Lakers game from Southern California.
Play-In Tournament's biggest ticket
This is a matchup fit for the Western Conference Finals, but injury filled, subpar seasons have left the Lakers and the Warriors battling in this one game contest that will ensure entry into the first round of the playoffs.
Wherever LeBron James goes, the Warriors seem to follow. Golden State and LeBron have won a combined eight NBA Titles in the last ten years.
Steph heating up at the right time
The Warriors had a disappointing start to their season. Despite having a core that consists of the splash brothers and Draymond Green, nothing was clicking for the trio at the beginning of the campaign.
They were dealt another blow in February when Klay Thomspon suffered a torn achilles that will keep him out until next season. But the Warriors, as they have done so often in the Steve Kerr era, have turned it on at the right time losing just four games since the beginning of April.
It perhaps hasn’t been the dream season for the Warriors, but as Draymond Green reminded interviewers a few days ago, “We have f***ing Steph Curry” and this is Curry’s prime time.
Lakers will have to beat the best to repeat
The Los Angeles Lakers built a super team two years ago in hopes of winning not just one multiple championships. This season they have had trouble keeping their stars on the court at the same time.
Anthony Davis suffered a calf injury earlier in the year that kept him out for nearly half of the 72 game regular season. LeBron James has been bothered by an ankle injury he suffered in mid March, but both have had time to heal and rest before the post season begins, which is great news for the Lakers and bad news for anyone that stands in their way.