The Los Angeles Lakers took back the lead in the NBA playoffs in the duel of the superstars against the Golden State Warriors. The Miami Heat are back up against the New York Knicks after winning their third game.
In their first home game of the semi-final series in the Western Conference on Saturday evening (05/06/2023, local time), the Lakers clinched a clear 127-97 victory and thus took a 2-1 lead in the series. Four wins are needed for a team to get into the final series in the west, the fourth game is again in Los Angeles on Monday (local time).
Anthony Davis was the Lakers’ top scorer with 25 points and 13 rebounds, LeBron James and D’Angelo Russell each had 21, Russell hit 5 of 8 three-pointers. National team captain Dennis Schröder came off the bench and contributed 12 points.
Curry and Thompson not a factor this time
The Lakers benefited from their strong defense and above all restricted the circles of the Warriors’ feared long-range shooters, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Superstar Curry was by far the best pitcher in the Warriors with 23 points, but sank only four three-pointers in a total of ten attempts. Thompson ended up standing on just three of nine attempts from downtown.
Lakers catching up before the break
After an eleven-point lead in the first half, not much worked for the champions. A Curry misunderstanding with Thompson at 40-29 for the Warriors was the starting point for the Lakers’ comeback. With a 30-8 run in the last seven and a half minutes before half-time, the 17-time champions worked their way back into the game and went into the break eleven points ahead. After the change of sides, the hosts extended their lead to 26 points and were able to put James and Davis on the bench and rest them for several minutes.
Butler comeback, heat successful
The Miami Heat have also regained the lead in the East semi-final series against the New York Knicks. After the two opening games in Madison Square Garden, Miami won the first game at home in Florida with 105:86.
Match-winner heat guard Jimmy Butler, who put up 28 points on his return from an ankle injury. The Knicks never managed to put a stamp on the game. Only Jalen Brunson was almost in normal form and was the top scorer for the two-time champion with 20 points.
The German center Isaiah Hartenstein remained without points in almost 26 minutes of the game, but still recorded three rebounds and two blocks. Game four also rises in Miami on Tuesday night.