Lakers start fast, eliminate Warriors for West finals spot

LeBron James pumped in 30 points and Anthony Davis added 17 points with 20 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers’ dynamic duo returned the franchise to the Western Conference finals for the second time since 2010 with a 122-101 victory over the visiting Golden State Warriors on Friday, May 12 (Saturday, May 13, Manila time).

Austin Reaves scored 23 points and D’Angelo Russell had 19 as the Lakers won the conference semifinals in six games and eliminated the defending NBA champions by improving to 6-0 at home in the playoffs. 

Davis played despite a head injury that occurred in the fourth quarter of Game 5.

The Lakers move on to face the Denver Nuggets on the road in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday.

Stephen Curry scored 32 points and Donte DiVincenzo added 16 off the bench as the Warriors lost to a Western Conference team in the playoffs for the first time since Steve Kerr became head coach in the 2014-2015 season.

Klay Thompson struggled for the fourth consecutive game, going 2-of-12 from three-point range and finishing with 8 points for Golden State. 

The Warriors were 13-of-48 (27.1%) from three-point range.

Draymond Green scored 9 points with 9 rebounds for the Warriors. Green was slowed by a calf injury in the fourth quarter, while Andrew Wiggins played with a rib cartilage fracture and scored just six points.

The Lakers came out with early energy, leading by 17 points just over seven minutes into the game.

The Lakers finished the first half on a dynamic sequence. Davis blocked a shot inside by DiVincenzo, James tapped the ball down court, and Reaves drilled a half-court shot at the buzzer for a 56-46 lead at the half.

Amid his first start of the playoffs, the Lakers’ Dennis Schroder was ejected with 6:20 remaining in the third quarter after receiving his second technical foul. 

His replacement, Lonnie Walker IV, scored 5 quick points and Los Angeles went into the final period with a 91-77 lead.

The Lakers pushed their advantage to 24 points at 106-82 with 7:17 remaining. – Rappler.com