The Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals on Saturday night with a 101-122 victory at home over Golden State, completing a big 2-4 encounter en route to a meeting with Denver and Nikola Jokic. LeBron James stepped up and had his best game of the current playoffs with 30 points (10-of-14 from the field), 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Curry scored 32 (11-of-28) but couldn't save the Warriors.
The Lakers got off to a dream start when LeBron James put them up 9-22 early with a three. The advantage grew to 17 with a shot from outside the arc by Austin Reeves, but Stephen Curry warmed up and cut it to 31:26 at the end of the quarter. The Warriors, who didn't lead for a second, tried to stay in the picture, but the Lakers maintained a solid 5-10 point lead. Austin Reaves closed the half with a spectacular three-pointer from half-court that set up 46:56 for the locals.
Reeves' three-pointer may have broken the Warriors, as the margin only grew in the second half. James and Reeves danced en route to 53:72, while Curry remained quite alone in the set, assisted only by Donte DiVincenzo. The Lakers lost Dennis Schroder, who was ejected for a second technical foul, but another complementary player, Game 4 winning hero Lonnie Walker, contributed eight points in a short time to make it 70-88.
Steph Curry. Didn't save the Warriors, Photo: AFP
Jordan Poole cut the lead to 91-77 at the end of the quarter and even narrowed the gap to just 11 points early in the final quarter, but the Lakers again pressed the pedal and showed that at this point in time they are the best team in California. Rui Hachimura completed a quick 0-11 run, and from there there was no turning back for the Warriors to bid farewell to the title.
Steve Kerr. The champion outside, photo: AP
Miami Heat vs New York Knicks 92:96 (2:4 in series)
After the sensational face Milwaukee in the first round, Miami is the second No. 8 seed ever to advance to a regional final. Jimmy Butler and his gang are in the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in four years and they will face the winner between Boston and Philadelphia, who will meet for Game 7 on Sunday.
Jalen Brunson did everything he could to keep New York's season alive. The Knicks star exploded for 41 points (14-of-22 from the field, 5-of-10 from three, 8-of-9 from the free-throw line) after shelling out 38 in the previous win at Madison Square Garden, but he received no help from his teammates and ended his dream season. Jimmy Butler wasn't on a big night (24 points on 7-of-22 shooting from the field and 8 rebounds), but he was responsible for some critical clutch plays that ultimately punched his ticket to the next level. Bam Adebayo added 23 and 9 rebounds, Max Strus scored 14 and Kyle Lowry 11 with 9 assists.
Jamie Butler. Was there for the friends, Photo: AP
Despite Brunson's 22 points in the first half, it was the Heat who led 50-51 at the break led by Adebayo with 17. The hosts held a 71-74 lead after 36 minutes, and after Butler's end-and-one (after a foul by Barrett) ran away to 76:85 and began to smell the Eastern Conference Finals with 6:25 left on the clock. The Knicks also made it 87-84 with a big three, Butler increased the gap to 5 and Adebayo's dunk made it 86-92 with 1:05 to go. Brunson squeezed an unsportsmanlike foul from Gabe Vincent, scored twice from the line, found Hart for a layup and suddenly the scoreboard showed just 92:90 54.1 to go.
Bronson. Wasn't enough for the Knicks, Photo: AP
After Butler's miss, Brunson had a chance to equalize, but he looked for Randle and lost a crucial ball that cost the Knicks the season. Butler scored twice from the line on the other end and Tom Thibodeau drew a drill for Quentin Grimes (1-of-6 from three) — who was left free from outside the arc — and recorded an airball that described the entire game of Knicks players not answering Jalen Brunson's name. Strus shut things down from the line and the Florida crowd erupted in celebration.
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us
