Golden State Warriors 97 vs 127 Los Angeles Lakers summary: stats and highlights | NBA Playoffs Game 3

The Los Angeles Lakers took a 2-1 series lead over the Golden State Warriors with a dominant performance from the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night. Anthony Davis had another bounce back performance, scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in the the 127-97 victory.

Davis silences doubters

The Lakers got crushed in Game 2 from the Bay Area on Thursday night, and once again criticism rained down on the shoulders of their star center Anthony Davis, but he responded with a big bounce back game to lead LA to the comfortable home win.

It wasn’t Davis who got the Lakers night started in the right direction. That was D’Angelo Russell who had a huge first quarter scoring LA’s first 11 points and 13 of their first 17. But both he and the Lakers would go cold in to end the quarter.

Klay Thompson went toe to toe with Russell in the opening, and it looked like he was on the verge of a second straight big game, but he cooled off after his 11 point first quarter and ended the game with 15.

James laid low to start game

LeBron James didn’t take a single field goal in the first 18 minutes of the game, but once he did the Lakers started to cruise after going down nine points in the second quarter. James’ night got started from the free throw line, and then he hit a lay up in transition, and then a three in the corner as part of a 13-0 run that stripped the Warriors of the lead before half.

Golden State was held to just 18 points in the second quarter as the defending champions committed mental error after mental error. They had were called for a flagrant foul, two technicals and a take foul in a quarter in which they scored just 18 points.

LA ended the first half on a 30-8 run and led by nine going into the break. Golden State wouldn’t come within striking distance for the rest of the night as Steph Curry was held to just 23 points. The Lakers lead would balloon out to 20 in the third quarter as LeBron and Russell both finished the game with 21 a piece. By the early part of the four quarter both coaches took their starters out as they began thinking about Game 4.

Golden State will try to steal one on the road, but the Lakers have a chance to pull within one win of the next round with a win on Monday night when they return to the Crypto.com Arena at 10 p.m. ET 

This was one of the last plays we saw from the Lakers and Warriors starters as the lead climbed over 20 and both coaches rested their players the rest of the way. 

James ended the game with 21, 8 and 8 as the 38 year old played 32 minutes in the Game 3 win. 

LA went on a huge run to take control of the game going into hafltime. They would stretch the lead out from there and keep the Warriors at an arms length or more for the rest of the night. 

Russell had all 21 of his points in the first half of Game 3 and played a big part setting the tone early. When he has a big game, the Lakers win. It's as simple as that. 

LeBron took his first FG with just over 6 minutes to go in the second quarter, but once he saw the ball go in the basket it was over for the Warriors. 

AD wasted no time getting involved early in the game after he was showered with criticism in the Game 2 loss. 

Russell had the first 11 points of the Lakers night and scored 13 of their first 17 in Game 3. 

D'Angelo Russell started the game off knocking down three straight threes to get the Lakers started early. 

Kuminga lays it up and that's how this game is going to end! The Lakers blow Golden State out by 30 and take Game 3 at home!

Christie with a late highlight as he skies and slams it home off the assist from Brown Jr. 

Payton going back at the rack and he hits the layup. 

Christie with the layup down the lane. 

Payton jams it home as this is just a waiting game until the final buzzer. 

Kuminga at the line and he hits two FTs after the foul on Brown Jr. 

Thompson with the jam down the heart of the defense. 

Harrison gets the lay up to drop down the lane. 

Payton gets the lay up off the glass on the inbound pass in the corner. 

Harrison drills a three ball and the lead it over 30 from LA!

Walker hits the baseline J and continues to pad his stats. He's got 12 off the bench. 

Lamb hits a three ball out of the timeout!

Harrison with the slash to the rack and he lays it up and in. 

Timeout Warriors with 5:13 to go in the fourth quarter. 

Christie with a drive to the basket and he gets the lay up to go!

Walker hits the three ball and he's having a nice game in his return to regular action. 

Kuminga gets the pull up jumper to go off the Poole assist. 

DiVencenzo drills a three ball from the top of the key!

Hachimura with a couple quick buckets, this time from behind the three point line!

Kuminga drills the three ball in the corner!

Walker draws some ohhhh and ahhhs from the crowd with a slick move and a lay up down low. 

Poole at the line after the the foul on Harrison and he hits one of two FTs. 

Hachimura gets on the board for the first time tonight with a mid range jumper. 

Kuminga at the line after the foul on Harrison and he hits both FTs. 

The Warriors take a timeout with 8:33 to go. 

Schroder drills the three ball and the Warriors take a timeout with 9:11 to go in the game. Don't be surprised if Curry and Thompson's night are done. 

Curry finds Green down low for the lay up. 

Reaves pulls up from the wing and he hits the three ball! LA leads by 25 and the starters should start heading to the bench soon. 

Moody was fouled by Schroder and he hits both FTs. 

Schorder on the lob and Davis finishes with the alley oop jam. 

Davis fouled by Payton and he hits both FTs. 

Walker at the line to start the fourth quarter after the foul on Moody and he hits both FTs. 

WE ARE AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER!!! 

Golden State tried to get back into the game, but as soon as they cut the lead to 10, LA went on a 10-0 run to stretch the lead to 20 and they lead by 18 going into the final 12 minutes. 

Thompson stops outside the lane and hits the floater of the glass from the baseline. 

LeBron on the fader from outside the lane and that's a 10-0 run for the Lakers who lead by 20!

Walker with the runner of the glass and the Lakers have their largerst lead of the game!

LeBron hits both FTs after the foul on DiVencenzo. 

LeBron spins to the bucket and gets the lay in to go!

Davis on the jump hook with the shot clock winding down. 

Curry dashes down the lane and he hits the floater. 

Curry drills a three ball on the step back over the defender. 

Schroder missed the three ball but LeBron was the for the rebound and put back. 

Schroder drills a three points and the lead is stretched back out to 13!

Curry gets the lay up to fall on the reverse after catching the air ball from Poole. 

Looney gets the lay up to go and the Lakers will take a timeout with 5:45 to go in the third quarter. 

Wiggins with MONSTER SLAM down the lane and over Davis after AD came up with a block on the previous shot. 

Davis to the line after the foul on Green and he hits both FTs. 

Curry drills a deep three from the top of the key and he's going to need to big in the second half if GS is going to make a comeback. 

Reaves hits both FTs after the foul on Thompson.

Wiggins at the line after the foul on Davis and he hits both FTs. 

Vanderbilt at the line after the foul on Green and he hits both FTs. 

The call stands and AD hits one of two FTs. 

AD was fouled by Green and the Warriors are going to challenge the call. 

LeBron drills the three ball on the wing off the kick out from Russell. 

Reaves pulls up from the mid range. 

Thompson gets the lay up to off the feed from Green to start the half. 

Davis hit this runner to end the quarter on a 30-8 run and give the Lakers their largest lead of the game. 

D Lo's got 21 to lead all scorers after 24 minutes as the Lakers went on a big run to end the half. 

LeBron started his scoring night from the FT line and that started 13-0 run that brought the Lakers from 11 down to 2 up with under 5 minutes to go in the half. 

Curry's got 13, but it 2/6 from downtown. Look for him to get more involved in the second half if the Warriors are going to have a chance. 

Wiggins has 12 on 5/8 shooting but the Warriors offense fell flat in the last part of the second quarter. 

LeBron didn't take a shot until the six minute mark in the second quarter, but Davis was picking up the slack. 

Klay hit three threes in the first quarter after sinking 8 in Game 2, but then got shut down in the second quarter. 

Russell had the first 11 points and 13 of the first 17 in the first quarter. 

D'Lo came out firing out of the gate, hitting three threes for LA's first 9 points of the night. 

Davis with the runner on the baseline and the Lakers finish the quarter on a 30-8 run to take their largest lead of the night into the third quarter. 

Russell leads all scorers with 21, Davis has 16 and 7 and James turned it on in the final six minutes of the half to go to the locker room with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. 

Curry has 13 to lead the Warriors, Wiggins has 12 and Thompson has 11 which all came in the first quarter. 

Schorder shoots another FT after the defensive three seconds but misses that one. 

J. Green got T'd up for yelling from the bench and Schroder hits the FT. 

James was fouled by Wiggins and he hits one of two FTs wth 42.5 to go in the half. 

Schroder hits a three ball after DiVencenzo dared him to, and the Lakers lead is back to seven!

Reaves at the line after the foul on Thompson and he hits one of two FTs. 

Russell with a take foul on Curry, and he makes the FT, and then gets the lay up to go down the lane. 

Wiggins pops a three in the face of Lebron and that ends the Lakers run. 

LeBron hits Russell on the outlet and Russell gets the lay in to go off the glass! 22-2 run for the Lakers who lead by 9!

Timeout warriors with 2:22 to go in the half. 

Russell drills the three ball from the top of the key and he's got 21 first half points off five threes!!!

James going to the line after the foul on Wiggins and he hits both FTs with 3:09 on the clock. 

Davis at the line after the foul on Green and hits both FTs. 15-2 run for the Lakers to take the lead. 

The call was reversed and Green picks up the blocking foul. Draymond got T'd up on his way to the bench but Reaves missed the FT. 

Davis was called for an offensive foul and the Lakers are going to challenge the refs decision with 3:32 to go in the half. 

Divencenzo gets the dump off from Green for the lay up. 

Russell found LeBron in the corner and he hits the step back three!

Reaves at the line and he hits both FTs, and the Lakers get the ball back put LeBron got blocked by Thompson. 

Mooney whistled for a take foul after falling to the floor and tripping up Davis after grabbing his leg and after review the foul is called for a flagrant foul. 

LeBron finally gets his first FG to go on the spin to the cup and the lay up. 

LeBron hits the second of two FTs out of the timeout. 

James was fouled in transition and he hits a FT before the Warriors call a timeout with 6:32 to go in the second quarter. That was LeBron's first field goal of the night. 

Davis sticks the jumper over Green in the paint off the bounce pass from Russell. 

Davis down low after the feed from LeBron and he gets the easy deuce to drop. He's into double figures early in the second quarter. 

Moody was left all alone and he drills the three ball off the bench!

Curry answers back with another three ball and he's got 10 early points!

Russell hits a three ball out of the timeout and he's got 16 on the night!

Timeout Lakers early in the second quarter and the Warriors lead by 8.

Steph with the dump off and that leads to another easy lay in for Wiggins. Golden State have their largest lead of the night. 

Wiggins taps out the offensive board and got it back underneath for the reverse lay up. 

Walker off the bench and he hits the three ball for the first points of the second quarter. 

We are at the end of the first quarter and the Warriors went on an 18-4 run to take the lead thanks to some hot shooting from Klay Thompson who has 11. 

D'Angelo Russell had 13 of the Lakers first 17 points, but as he cooled down, so did LA. 

Looney at the line after the foul on Hachimura and he hits one of two FTs. 

Poole blew past LeBron and laid it up off the glass. 

Thompson is starting to heat up! He strings another three ball and he's in double digits already!

Poole with a catch and release off the pass from Looney and he's got his first FG of the night. 

Schorder gets into the lane and hits the runner. 

Thompson was wide open off the screen at the top of the key and he drllls the three! He's got 8 points already. 

Thompson at the line after the foul on Schroder and he hits both FTs. 

Davis hits the second of two FTs out of the timeout. 

Davis at the line after the foul on Looney and he hits the first FT before the Warriors take a timeout with 4 minutes to go in the first quarter. 

Wiggins strings a three ball in the corner off the feed from Poole!

Curry on the runner down the lane and he's got 7 after using the bank. 

Davis finishes the lay up off the glass in traffic after the lob from LeBron. 

Vanderbilt at the line out of the timeout and he misses both FTs. 

Russell with the spin and the fade away after the pump fake on Thompson in the air. He's got 13 of the first 17 for the Lakers!

Timeout LA with 5:38 to go in the first quarter. 

Davis pulls up from the mid range and hits, and that's 4 quick points for AD. 

Thompson drills his first three of the night after hitting 8 on Thursday night!

Curry drills it from the top of the key and he's got 5 already after scoring just 20 last game. 

Davis at the line after the foul on D. Green and he hits both for his first two points of the game. 

Wiggins picks up the rebound and goes coast to coast for the uncontested lay up. 

Russell has the first 11 point game, and his first FG from inside the arc. 

J. Green fends off the defender off the entry feed and gets the jam. 

RUSSELL IS ON FIRE GO START THIS GAME!! James drove baseline and found him wide open on the perimeter!

Curry got hacked by Russell and still hit the floater from outside the lane! FT is no good, and that's a rare miss from Steph. 

Russell with a quick trigger three ball from the corner and he's got the game's first six points. 

Russell drills the three ball after the double team came on Davis down low!

WE ARE UNDERWAY IN GAME 3 FROM LOS ANGELES!!!

The Lakers aren't changing anything to their starting five tonight from LA. It's LeBron, AD, Reaves, Vanderbilt and Russell to start Game 3 from the Crypt. 

Jamichael Green gets his second straight start after scoring 15 points in Game 2. He takes Kevon Looney's spot in the starting five and give a different dynamic to the Warriors offense. He can stretch out the defense forcing Davis to guard the perimeter. 

Doubting Davis?

Every time the Lakers I feel like I have to say the same thing. But Anthony Davis forces my hand. He can be brilliant, like he showed in Game 1 scoring 32 and grabbing 23 rebounds. There are other nights where he is nothing more than ordinary, if that like in the first half of Game 2 where he scored just four points. If the Lakers are going to win they don’t just need Davis to be great, they need him to be constantly great. 

Warriors road woes 

A home loss in the first two games of a series always hurts. It hurts more if you are a a team like the Golden State Warriors who have had a horrendous season away from the Chase Center. They won just 11 road games on the road, and to win this series they will have to win at least two game in LA after losing the opener. They have two games to take back home court, but it’s not going to be easy against a Lakers team that has been on fire under their own roof since the All-Star break. 

Back in LaLa Land after Game 1 win

A lot has been said about this new look Lakers team. LeBron doesn’t have to be LeBRon. Finally he has a team around him that can carry him on those nights where he is not on top form. Forget that… LeBron is still the most unstoppable player in the league and in games like tonight he usually shows it. He scored 22 in the first game and 23 in the second game, but tonight I have a feeling he is going to want to show out infront of the surely star studded fans at Crypto.com Arena. 

Warriors make the trip south

Steph Curry had to change his game entirely in Game 2 as the Lakers double teamed the Warriors triggerman early and often. He shifted perfectly into playing a more traditional point guard role, setting up his teammates for success dishing out 12 assists and scoring 20 points in the blowout win. You pick your poison when you play against Steph. If you double him, he’s got the weapons around him to make you pay. If you don’t, he can take it upon himself to make you pay double. 

Game 2 recap

The Lakers suffered the typical let down after winning Game 1 on the road and got wiped out by the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday night. Klay Thompson shined in his best outing this postseason, scoring 30 points and hitting eight threes in the near must win game. LA came out of the gate double teaming Steph Curry which opened up space for the rest of the Warriors side and Thompson had a field day. LA won the first quarter, but a 10-0 second quarter run gave Golden State a lead that they wouldn’t give up for the rest of the game. LeBron had 21 in the first half to keep LA somewhat in the game, but Anthony Davis disappeared as the Warriors stretched the lead out to 30 going into the fourth quarter. 

We are live from LA

Hello everyone and welcome to The Crypt where the Lakers return home after taking care of business on the road and now it’s up to them to take care of their home court. The Warriors haven’t been great on the road this year, but they have a championship DNA that cannot be denied. They have already come up with a must win game in Sacramento in Game 7 of the first round, but the Lakers are a different beast. They have their first of two attempts to steal one in LA tonight. 

Warriors vs. Lakers Game 3

What better stage than Los Angeles for a matchup of massive importance in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals? We come into tonight with the Los Angeles Lakers tied at 1-1 with the Golden State Warriors after stealing the opener on the road. AS English will be with all night, providing live co