After the Golden State Warriors dominated Game 2, the Los Angeles Lakers came back with a dominant performance of their own on Saturday.
Led by Anthony Davis and LeBron James, LA blew out the Warriors by 30, 127-97, to take Game 3 of the best-of-seven series, and the first game in Los Angeles. The series has looked quite a bit different than the wire-to-wire theatrics of Kings-Warriors from the first round, but like in that series, the Warriors head into Game 4 facing a 2-1 deficit.
As good as Davis (25 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks) and James (21-8-8) were, the Warriors’ stars left a lot to be desired. Curry (23 on 9-of-21) and Thompson (15 on 5-of-14) shot poorly, and Golden State was boat-raced with them on the floor. Curry was -26, Klay -23 and Green a game-worst -27 in just 23 minutes due to foul trouble.
The offense as a whole looked broken. As a team, GS shot 39% from the field and 29% from deep. Davis remains a problem in the middle they’re having trouble solving.
Here are three takeaways from a game the Warriors will want to flush down the toilet:
Second quarter disaster
Up 40-29 with 7:35 in the second quarter, Stephen Curry attempted a throw-ahead pass to Klay Thompson in transition, only for the ball to bounce out of bounds when Thompson never turned around. The lack of awareness infuriated Curry, who screamed “C’MON!!” as he ran back on defense.
It was as if he sensed the Warriors had squandered a big opportunity to stretch the lead. What he probably didn’t know is the game would never be the same.
Golden State went flat, and then flatlined after that play, never recovering after their great start turned into a blowout loss. The 40-29 lead was a 59-48 deficit by halftime. The Warriors were outscored in the quarter 36-18, and were battered during a 20-2 run and a 30-8 run.
They lost their composure as well. Both Draymond and JaMychal Green received technical fouls from the bench in the last 20 seconds of the half. Moses Moody was issued a flagrant foul for tripping Anthony Davis after the Lakers scored 10 unanswered. Golden State was called for a defensive 3-in-the key for the first time this postseason.
The Lakers turned up the defense after looking sleepy to start the game. Davis was a problem down low, with the Warriors electing to quick-shot the rim protector instead of trying to draw fouls. Golden State turned the ball over nine times and shot 7-of-23 in the frame. It decided the game.
Unfortunately the halftime whistle wouldn’t provide a respite.
The Warriors scored just 10 total points during a 12-minute stretch between quarters. They had 40 points at the 7:53 mark of the second quarter, and 50 points at 7:53 of the third quarter.
At one point there was a 40-12 Lakers run.
Other than all that, it was a pretty decent stretch for the Warriors.
Centers of attention
Steve Kerr said Kevon Looney was feeling better and ready to go for Game 3 after he was sick for Game 2, but elected to again start JaMychal Green after his 15 point in 13 minute outburst on Thursday. It’s become a Kerr tradition to stick with the starting lineup if the Warriors win the previous game, something GS did in the Kings series with the Jordan Poole for Draymond Green swap.
In addition to JaMychal’s impressive minutes, there was serious upside to Draymond playing the five and guarding Anthony Davis consistently in Game 2. In Game 3, a downside presented itself early, with Green accumulating two quick fouls while trying to protect the rim down low.
Green’s foul trouble would continue all evening and Davis was responsible for three of them in block-charge situations that Green got the worst of. It was a microcosm of their respective evenings, where Davis hit Green with a counterpunch after being dominated in Game 2.
Davis again was a major problem defensively and re-discovered his aggressiveness on offense, attacking the paint and earning 12 free throw attempts (he made 11).
Meanwhile, Draymond’s night was poor on both ends. The Lakers made a smart tweak, putting Jarred Vanderbilt on Draymond instead of Curry, allowing him to help on screens and shore up the pick and roll defense with Green involved. That plus the fouls led to Draymond’s paltry line of 2-2-4 in just 23 minutes.
The tweak meant that Austin Reaves guarded Curry, and area where the Warriors could’ve made Los Angeles pay. Unfortunately, Curry got off to a slow start. By the time he started knocking down shots, it was too late.
JaMychal Green fell back to earth as well, scoring just two points and missing three wide-open 3s. Looney also looked off, turning the ball over three times in 16 minutes and struggling as the dump off option on offense.
In Games 1 and 3 the Lakers have dominated the center battle, and in Games 1 and 3 the Lakers have come out victorious.
Wiggins reaches the rafters
Well all that was a bummer for Warriors fans, but there was one truly thrilling moment.
With Golden State firmly in a tailspin, down 71-55, Andrew Wiggins threw down a massive slam, one reminiscent of when he took Luka Doncic’s soul last season.
During a broken possession, Curry dribbled the ball around and around, then had his reverse layup attempt swatted by Davis. Looney grabbed the loose ball and shoveled it to Wiggins who rose up, cocked the ball back and slammed it over Davis.
It deserved the Father Stretch My Hands treatment.
It was the type of play that looked like it might be a turning point. It wasn’t. Whatever, it was still cool.
Pregame note:
The Warriors announced pregame that Andre Iguodala has been cleared for increased activity, and is expected to participate in team practices next week.
“He’s been on the court the last few days and he hasn’t done any full contact work but he’s getting a lot of ball handling and defensive slides and that sort of thing,” Kerr said pregame. “So he’s getting more and more work in each day and he’s getting closer to possibly being able to play.”
Iguodala played in just eight games this season dealing with a hip injury and then breaking his wrist after his return. Despite that and his age (39), Golden State’s lack of big wing depth could make him a rotation option when he is healthy enough to return.