The Warriors beat the Angels 127-100 and tie the series 1-1
The game reached the last quarter with a difference of 30 points and both coaches reserved their starters
With eight triples from a lethal Klay Thompson and 12 assists from a magnificent Stephen Curry in directing, the Golden State Warriors tied this Thursday the semifinal of the West against Los Angeles Lakers (1-1) with an overwhelming and very convincing triumph (127-100). After losing on Tuesday in San Francisco in the game that opened this series (112-117), the reigning NBA champions vindicated themselves by winning a game that they already dominated by 30 points before the start of the fourth quarter. Thompson led Golden State with 30 points and an excellent 8-of-11 3-point range while Curry chipped in 20 points (7-of-12 shooting) and took the helm of the home offense with 12 assists. In the last period, Thompson did not play and Curry only had a few minutes since by then the game was over (the Lakers stars did not take the field either in a storyless quarter).
Facing a quintet of the Warriors with all its members in double digits of points, the Lakers gave a fragile image on defense and, above all, they suffered a bad day from Anthony Davis. After his exhibition of the first game with 30 points and 23 rebounds, the center was left with only 11 points and 7 rebounds (5 of 11 shooting), he looked very out of place all night and could not decipher the accurate defensive adjustments of some Warriors who bet to stop him by a very complete Draymond Green (11 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists). LeBron James was the benchmark for the Angelenos with 23 points and 7 rebounds and Rui Hachimura had very good minutes in the second unit with 18 points.
The Warriors cemented their triumph on the triples (a great 21 of 42 compared to 10 of 34 for the Lakers) and their control of the rebound (65 of 49). This series of Californian rivalry now travels to Los Angeles, where the third game will take place on Saturday.
Thompson and Curry rule
With JaMychal Green in the quintet instead of a Kevon Looney who was not feeling entirely well, the Warriors came out with a fixed idea: add arms and legs in the area, with Draymond Green as a buoy, to put all possible obstacles to Davis . The local dike worked against the pivot, who went unnoticed in the first half with only 4 points and a discreet 2 of 7 shooting. Those who did raise their voices in the visiting attack were a hyperactive LeBron in the first quarter with 14 points and a very fine Hachimura from the bench who added 8 points to throw the Lakers before the second period (26-33).
Golden State had a hard time finding their way and imposing their speed at the beginning, but in the second quarter they completely changed the rhythm of the game. Much more intense on defense, determined to run the counterattack and successful both in the triple and in the fight for the rebound, the Warriors turned the game around against Lakers who were completely overwhelmed. Curry was key in that local transformation, not so much because of his points (8 goals at halftime) but because of his excellent ability to distribute the game and activate the offensive chorus of Steve Kerr’s men with 8 assists in the first half. With the point guard more focused on organizing than executing, Thompson took his artillery out from the perimeter with four 3-pointers in the second quarter and laid out the red carpet for the Warriors to dominate at halftime (67-56) to some Lakers who found no answers (partial 41-23 for Golden State) and in which LeBron was left too alone (21 points).
If the Lakers orchestrated something in the locker room to stop the Warriors’ gale, it had no effect on the court. Thompson continued with his scoring recital with three triples, Curry joined the party with a falling three pointer and only within reach of the chosen ones and even JaMychal Green wanted to do his bit with 10 points only in the third period. With no news from the Lakers, a Moses Moody dunk practically on the buzzer placed an already unapproachable +30 before the fourth quarter (110-80), closed another beastly run for the Warriors (43-24) and finalized this important victory for Golden State before traveling to Los Angeles.