LeBron James arrives at the game against Golden State 5 hours before kick-off (from the NBA's official website)
The next sentence would have seemed like an imaginary and fictional scenario until a few months ago, but on Saturday morning it became reality - the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated defending champion Golden State and advanced to the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers, who had been floundering for most of the season and had completely changed their face since the Russell Westbrook trade, took another step toward LeBron James' fifth ring when they went 2-4 in the regional semifinals over the outgoing champion with a one-sided and unequivocal 94:111.
The Lakers remain the only ones in the playoffs along with Miami who have yet to lose a home game in the 2023 playoffs, and like the Heat, they have made the long way from the play-in tournament to the regional finals. They won't enjoy home-field advantage in the next series either, and there the Denver Nuggets will await them to replicate the Western Conference Finals from the bubble in 2020, which ended with the team's last championship from the City of Angels to date. Golden State, on the other hand, bids farewell to the crown with its first series loss to a Western Conference team since 2014, before the Steve Kerr era.
A feast day in the City of Angels. LeBron James celebrates with his teammates (Photo by Getty Images, Harry How)
In front of a battery of stars and celebrities in the stands, 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, because in the second half the margin only grew. 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.
More in Walla!
Strategic location, spectacular views and luxurious apartments: the intriguing neighborhood being built in the center
In association with Aura Real Estate
Transcend at the moment of truth. Reeves (Photo: Reuters)
The champion separates. Kerry (Photo by Getty Images, Harry How)
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.
LeBron James came close to a triple-double with 30 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists, Austin Reaves stood out with 23 and Anthony Davis recorded another terrific double-double of 17 points and 20 rebounds. Stephen Curry left the 2022/23 season with 32 points, Klay Thompson came out with a poor display of 8 points and 3-of-19 from the field.
- sport
- NBA
Tags
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Golden State Warriors
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/S7UVDTX7DREC7DXVCZN6MEKGBY.jpg)
