Golden State Warriors 101 vs 104 Los Angeles Lakers summary: stats and highlights | NBA Playoffs Game 4
The Los Angeles Lakers are a win away from the Western Conference Finals after surviving a scare against the Golden State Warriors to take a 3-1 lead in Game 4 from Crypto.com Arena. LeBron James led the way with 28, but it was Lonnie Walker IV who came up big late in the fourth quarter of the 104-101 victory.
Lakers nullify Curry triple-double
The Warriors came into Monday's game with their backs against the wall needing a win on the road, which hasn’t come easy for them this year. Steve Kerr decided to switch up his starting five and go with a smaller line up, starting Gary Payton II instead of Kevon Looney or Jamychal Green down low.
Payton II had himself quite a game in his first start as a Warrior since last year’s postseason. He had 15 points on 7/9 shooting, but in the first half it was Anthony Davis who dominated down low for LA.
Davis has been plagued with inconsistency and shrouded it criticism over the course of this postseason, and the Lakers made sure to avoid another off night by going to their big man early and often. Davis had 19 points and 6 rebounds in the opening two quarters, but the Lakers still trailed after another magnificent start to the game from Steph Curry. Curry would end the night with a 31 point triple double, just his third triple double of his playoff career.
AD slowed down, Walker picked up
Although Curry was doing everything he didn’t shoot well from the field. He was 12/30 on the night and hit just three of his 14 threes. Both teams struggled from the field in the first half, and after just 43 total points were scored in the opening quarter the Warriors went to halftime with a slim three point lead.
Anthony Davis would die down in the second half, scoring just four points in the final two quarters, but LeBron James and Austin Reaves came to life in the third. They led a 9-0 run that would tie the game up but then Gary Payton II had 7 straight points and nine in the quarter to keep the Warriors up seven going into the final 12 minutes.
It wasn’t LeBron, or Steph, or even Davis who made the difference in the late on. It was Lonnie Walker IV who had the quarter of his NBA career, scoring all 15 of his points and carrying his side to the win. Walker IV had barley seen time in this series before Game 3, and spent a lot of time on the sidelines in the Grizzlies series, but when his number was called Walker IV stepped to the stage and delivered a finish to remember.
Game 5 on Wednesday from the Bay
The Warriors will return home facing elimination from the Bay. They have been a much better team at home than o the road, and will have to show their championship DNA to keep the series alive. Tip off to Game 5 is Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
LeBron was sure to give it up to Lonnie Walker IV in the post game interview. He made sure to keep his teammate ready, because he knew his time would come in this postseason.
Take a look at Lonnie Walker IV's highlight reel from tonight. All 15 points came in a quarter, but he chose the right quarter to step up and change the game.
Curry cut it to a one point lead with under a minute to go, but Walker IV's two FTs would ice the game and send the Warriors to the brink of elimination.
It wasn't LeBron, it wasn't Steph, it wasn't AD, it was Lonnie Walker IV coming through in the clutch and saving the day for the Lakers. He had 23 point in 11 playoff games going into Game 3, in his last two playoff games he's scored 12 and 15.
Lonnie Walker IV hadn't scored a single point in the first three quarters but he erupted for 15 in the final 12 minutes to lead the Lakers to victory.
Curry may have had a 31 point triple double, but LeBron had the last laugh with the win and this vicious slap off the glass.
The Lakers went down nine, had a 9-0 run, then gave up an 11-0 run in the third, but this sequence of back to back buckets changed the course of things for LA in Game 4.
LeBron and Austin Reaves came to life out of the halftime break, and it seemed like they were both feeding off each other. Those two have formed a special connection and it looks to be hitting stride as the postseason goes on.
Davis had 19 points and 6 boards at the end of the half, but scored just four points in the final two quarters.
AD padded the stat sheet in the first half, but disappeared in the second half. Luckily for him and the lakers Lonnie Walker was saving his best quarter of the season for just the right time.
AD had six points in the first quarter, but exploded for 13 in the second to keep the Lakers withing striking distance of Golden State.
AD came out and hit the first bucket of the game for LA, and they showed early that they were going to go to their big man from the start.
IT'S ALL OVER!!! THE LAKERS JUMP TO A 3-1 LEAD AND ARE A WIN AWAY FROM THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS!!!
WHAT A FOURTH QUARTER FROM LONNIE WALKER IV, WITH 15 IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES!
GS won the tip and it fell to Curry who fell to the ground and he threw it out of bounds with 1.5 seconds to go!
Green threw it away after driving right to the baseline and it's a jump ball after AD got tied up after the steal.
Walker to the line and he hits both FTs and he's got 15 fourth quarter points!!!
Curry missed a mid range jumper and a three ball after an offensive board with AD draped all over him. Walker got the rebound and he's going to the line with 15 seconds on the clock.
Curry drives to the rack and finishes the lay up off the glass.
James got bumped by Curry on the shot and he goes to the line where he hits both FTs.
Walker IV on the pull up and he hits it from a step behind the FT line.
Great defense from LA forced an Thompson miss from 30 feet. 2:00 on the clock.
James got the offensive rebound off the miss from Walker IV and he earns a trip to the line. He hits both after the foul on Curry.
Thompson open in the corner after some great ball movement and he drills the three!
Walker with the runner in the lane and he's got all of his points in the fourth quarter!
Curry with the one handed push shot off the glass from outside the lane.
Timeout Lakers with under four minutes to go in the game.
Reaves gets fouled by Wiggins and he hits both FTs and we are tied up with 5 to go.
Reaves hits a tough shot off the dribble with a hand in his face from the wing.
Wiggins going to the line after the blocking foul on Schroder and he hits both FTs with under 6 to go.
Curry with the no look pass to Moody who gets the easy jam and that's 14 assists for Chef Curry.
Walker with the pull up jumper and he's got 9 in the quarter!
Steph with the pull up three, AND THE FOUL after Schroder got a piece of him! FT is good to complete the four point play!
Walker on the inbound pass and he hits a quick trigger jumper from the baseline!
Curry grabs the rebound for his triple double and he goes down the court and hits a baseline jumper over Davis.
Walker IV picked up the loose ball and he dashes to the rack for the lay up! He's got 5 in the quarter.
Dump off from LeBron to Davis and the turn around hook shot drops after a slow third quarter. We're tied at 84.
Timeout Warriors with 10:27 to go!
James gets the leaner from outside the lane to go!
Walker IV picked the perfect time to make his intro to this game. He drills the three ball out of the quarter change!!
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER WITH THE WARRIORS LEADING BY 7.
LeBron had 10, but Davis had just 2 points in the third. Payton II had a huge quarter, scoring 9 points.
Big bucket from DiVencenzo as he strokes the three ball off the kickout from Curry!
Schroder gets into the paint and hits the floater effort off the glass with under a minute to go.
Looney went to the line after the foul on James and he missed both FTs.
Curry drives left and lays it high off the glass with under two minutes to go in the third quarter.
LeBron drives baseline and he gets the bucket and the foul! FT is good after the Wiggins foul.
Curry quiets the crowd down with an fantastic behind the back pass to DiVencenzo for the lay up.
LA stole the next in bound and it leads to a Schroder lay it and this stadium is finally coming to life.
LeBron comes out of the timeout and shakes off three GS defenders and gets the lay up.
Reaves answers back with a three ball off the kick out from Schroder! Big shot from the youngster in his first NBA postseason, and he's got 17.
DiVencenzo penetrated and kicked it out to Moody who drilled the corner three ball!
Wiggins at the FT line and he hits one of two FTs with under five to go in the third quarter.
Davis on the tip in after LeBron missed the lay up.
Reaves at the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Curry.
Wiggins goes coast to coast after slicing the LA defense down the lane and finishing with the lay up.
Wiggins comes out and snaps the net on a three ball to stretch the lead to 10!
Schroder hits the floater fall to the ground in the lane and that breaks the run.
Curry takes it on his own this time after Draymond hit him underneath and the Warriors are on a 9-0 run after giving up a 10-0 run to the Lakers.
Timeout Lakers with 7:07 to go in the third quarter.
Curry finds Payton again, this time from three from the corner and he's got 7 straight points and 9 in the quarter!
It's Payton again inside off the Curry assist again!
Payton running the break and Curry hit him for the transition lay up.
Green to the line out of the timeout after the foul on Russell and he hits both FTs to tie up the game.
Reaves in the corner after the kick out from James and he sticks the three! 10-0 run from LA and the Warriors need a TO with 8:57 to go in third!!
LeBron catches it on the fly and slashes to the rack for the lay in.
LeBron was open in the corner and he drills the three ball!
Reaves pulls up from the mid range and he drills the elbow J.
Thompson drills the three ball and the Warriors lead is up to 8 early in the second half.
Payton gets a lay up down low and he's got four FGs all in the paint.
WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FROM LA!!!
Curry had just 5 points in the first quarter, but got going in the second and he has 17 heading into the second half.
AD has 19 and and 6 rebounds on a night in which everyone said he was going to sturggle, but the Lakers still trail by three at half.
It was just 22-21 after the first quarter as both teams struggled to score, but AD started to cook in the second. He had 13 after posting 6 in the first quarter.
Everyone was talking about AD showing up in odd numbered games, but not in even number games. He no doubt heard the chatter and came out to silence his critics from early on.
Steph got the Warriors night started off with a three ball, but he would be quiet to start Game 4, hitting just two FGs early on.
That will do it for the first half from LA!
It hasn't been a pretty game as both teams have struggled from the field. The Warriors ended the half on a 14-6 run in the final three minutes of the second quarter.
Curry leads the Warriors with 17 after scoring 12 points after a slow first. Green and Payton both have 6 each.
AD is having himself a night in an even numbered playoff game, which has not been the norm this postseason. He has 19 and 6 rebounds, while James has 11 and 5.
The play stands and Curry goes to the line where he hits both FTs.
Reaves was called for the block after Curry crashed into him on the lay up. Coach Ham will challenge the call with 7.5 seconds on the clock.
Russell to the line after the foul on Moody and he hits both FTs.
Curry attracting attention and he dumps it off to Looney for the lay up.
Curry on the drive, the bucket and he'll go to the line after a foul on Davis. FT is good and the Warriors lead with a minute to go in the half.
Davis back to work in the paint and he's got back to back buckets.
Curry ties it up on a pull up jumper from downtown and the Chef is starting to heat up.
Davis hits the elbow J after Looney laid off him.
DiVencenzo gets the lay up on the out of bounds play and it's a one point game with under two to go in the half.
Curry is back on the board with 9 points after getting lucky to get the ball back after a near turnover.
Davis catches the ball in stride and he goes to the iron, gets the bucket and the foul! FT is good after Green got a piece of him.
Schroder comes out of the timeout and he hits the pull up from the elbow.
Dray with the fake handoff and he takes off to the rim and scoops it off the glass.
Timeout Lakers with 4:37 to go in the first half.
Wiggins steps into a three ball and he's on the money to snap the Lakers run.
LeBron found himself open in the corner and he drills the three ball. LA are on an 8-0 run.
LeBron finds an open Reaves in the corner and he hits the three ball!! He's had a slow start to his night, let's see if that gets him going.
Davis with the jam off the dish from LeBron.
Payton II getting back into the paint and he's got three short range FGs after the Lakers stretch Davis out to the perimeter to open up some space down low.
Davis stretches to the lane and sees the lay up fall. He's in double digits tonight already.
Green goes reverse on the baseline off the Curry dish.
LeBron comes out of the timeout and getting back to the bucket with a lay up.
Payton gets into the paint and gets the short range effort to fall.
Timeout Lakers with 10:16 to go in the half.
Green getting to the rack after Curry found him on the move to the bucket and he lays it up and in.
Schroder pulls up from the mid range and he's had a quiet series. He and the Lakers could use a big night in Game 4.
Curry drops the step back mid range jumper and he's got 7 on the night.
Davis steps to the FT line and hits the jumper.
Curry starts the quarter with the offensive rebound and he gets the put back lay up to go over AD.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER!!!
Not many points from either team, as both teams came out slow. The Warriors went through a four minute scoreless spell, but LA hit less than 35% of their FGs and we've got a game in the lower 20s after 12.
Davis and James both have 6 points, while Wiggins leads GS with 6 points.
DiVencenzo was open in the corner for three and he stuck it after the Curry kick out.
James is unstoppable when he puts his head down and gets to the rim and he drops the runner.
Moody gets the lay up to go off the Poole assist down low.
LeBron gets the finger roll to go out of the timeout on a strong drive to the cup.
Timeout Lakers with under 2 to play in the opening quarter.
Russell pulls up from the mid range and he's on the board for the first time.
Looney somehow got the bucket to go from underneath the basket with two defenders draped all over him.
Thompson with a quick trigger three from the wing and he snaps a 4 minutes scoreless drought.
Hachimura was fouled by Poole and he hits two FTs for his two first points.
Reaves streaking to the iron off the dish from Russell and he slices through the defense and finishes with a lay in.
Davis didn't have much to do with the shot clock running down but he shook off the defender and hits the leaner from the wing.
Reaves is on the board with a short range effort.
LeBron gets into the lane and his the hook shot.
Wiggins cuts baseline and Draymond hit him with a bounce pass for the lay in off the glass.
Wiggins took a bump and got the floater in traffic and he's off to a nice start with a couple quick buckets.
Payton gets under the iron and gets the bucket to go in his first start for the Warriors since last year's playoffs.
Wiggins on the streak and slam at the dish, and he's had a couple of sub par games in this series.
Vanderbilt comes out of the timeout and hits the second FT.
Vanderbilt gets to the line and he hits one of two before the Warriors call a timeout with just over two minutes gone in the game.
Curry with the pull up from long range, and the Warriors need to see more of that if they are going to steal a game in the Crypt tonight.
Davis gets to the line after a foul on Wiggins and he hits both FTs for four quick points for LA.
Davis starts his night off with a mid range jumper and that's a great sign for the Lakers out of the gate.
GAME 2 IS UNDERWAY FROM STAPLES CENTER!!!
Heat knocking on the door
The Miami Heat just took a 3-1 lead over the New York Knicks and are a win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals as the eight seed. Jimmy Butler had 27, 6 rebounds and 10 assists in the 109-101 win.
No surprise here. Darvin Ham is riding with the same starting five that has got him here to this point of the series. We can talk about AD and LeBron all we want but D'Angelo Russell has been huge this postseason. When he scores more than 16, the Lakers win. What can he do in the tonight's pivotal Game 4?
Steve Kerr is going small to start the game tonight, putting Gary Payton Jr. out on the floor from the start. We have seen Kevon Looney and Jamychale Green start in this series, but now it's time for Payton to go to work. The only question is who is going to guard AD? Green tried last game and wasn't too effective.
Thompson take over?
Steph Curry hasn’t looked like they Steph Curry we are used to seeing in this series, which means it’s time for the other splash bother to step up and carry this team. For the last decade this has been Curry’s team, and it still is but that doesn’t mean he can’t step aside and let Thompson do his thing. In the Warriors Game 2 win, he had 30 points and hit 8 threes shooting 11/18 from the field. That game the Lakers doubled Curry for most of the game, which allowed Klay to punish LA.
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 one 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.
Will AD dominate?
Anthony Davis has been an anomaly this post season, and not always in a good way if you’re a Lakers fan. For some reason he only shows up in odd number playoff games and in even number games he is much too ordinary for a superstar of his caliber. In Game’s 1,3 and 5 (they haven’t played a game 7 yet) he is averaging 27.8 and almost 15 rebounds a game. In Game’s 2,4 and 6 he is getting 13 points and 10 rebounds. LA is 4-1 in odd numbered games this postseason and 2-2 in even numbered games. Tonight all eyes will be on AD on a night that recent history shows he may be due for an off game.
Warriors up against the wall
Steph Curry has been uncharacteristically quiet in the last two games. In Game 2 it didn’t matter as much seeing as the Warriors beat the Lakers despite Curry scoring 20 points, but dished out 12 assists in the win. In Game 3, Curry was held to 23 points, but had just three assists in the blowout loss in LA. You have to think that Curry can’t be held to a sub par scoring game for a third straight game. If he does, Golden State could be in big trouble heading back to the Bay Area.
Game 3 recap
The on again off again performances from Anthony Davis continued on Saturday night. Fortunately for the Lakers it was in one of those odd numbers in the playoff series which meant he was due for a big night. He did not disappoint, scoring 25 and 13 in another dominant performance. It was D’Angelo Russell who started LA off on the right foot, scoring the first 11 points of the Lakers night but Golden State was leading after the first quarter. Davis took over from there on out as the LA held the Warriors to 18 points the second quarter, and took control of the game going into the second half. LA cruised to victory, as LeBron chipped in 21,8 and 8 while Curry was held to just 23 point in the Lakers win.
We are live from LA
Hello everyone and welcome to Crypto.com Arena where the Golden State Warriors aren’t in a desperation situation just yet, but a loss tonight would be a disastrous blow to their title defense. The Lakers are back at home with an undeniable opportunity to all but close the Warriors out, which means the former Staples Center is going to be rocking and there will be more than a few celebrities sitting court side. The Lakers haven’t lost a game at home since March 26th, and they will be taking on a Warriors team that was one of the worst road sides in the entire league.
Warriors vs. Lakers Game 4
The Los Angeles Lakers can take a big step towards the Western Conference Finals with a Game 4 win over the Golden State Warriors tonight. The defending champions will look to tie up the series before heading home but an LA win could have them knocking on the door of the next round. AS English will be with you all night providing live stats, scores, highlights and analysis of tonight’s can’t miss match up.