FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Warriors - Game 1 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Warriors – Game 1 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (43-39) | Golden State Warriors (44-38)

 

The Los Angeles Lakers survived a late-game comeback from the Golden State Warriors to take Game 1 117-112.

The Lakers vs Warriors played at the Chase Center on Tuesday.

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors, taking Game 1 on the road for the second straight series, behind an excellent performance from Anthony Davis. Davis (44 minutes played) had 30 points (11-of-19 FGs, 0-of-2 3s, 8-for-8 FTs), 23 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks. 

“It’s huge coming out and winning Game 1, taking home court. But like we said after the game, the job is not finished,” Austin Reaves said. “It’s not the first one to win one game; it’s first to four, so we got to keep a good mindset moving forward and stay locked in.”

Davis is the first Lakers player to go for 30 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game since Shaquille O’Neal did it on June 13th, 2004.

Davis is also the first Laker since O’Neal (2001) to have at least three 30-point, 15-rebound games in one postseason.

LeBron James (40 minutes played) finished with 22 points (9-of-24 FGs, 1-for-8 3s), 11 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. 

Anthony Davis had a career night

“We got the most important stops and was able to close out, but they ain’t gonna stop, and we have to be even better for Game 2,” James said.

The start of the Lakers vs Warriors’ first half. 

D’Angelo Russell chipped in 19 points (9-of-19 FGs, 1-for-5 3s), three rebounds, and six assists. Dennis Schroder came off the bench and produced 19 points (5-of-10 FGs, 9-of-10 FTs) and three assists.

Jarred Vanderbilt (Eight points, six rebounds, two steals, two blocks) displayed a stellar defensive effort in this one. However, Stephen Curry still walked away with 27 points (10-of-24 FGs, 6-for-13 3s), six rebounds, and three assists. 

Curry is now the first player in NBA History with 600 playoff 3-pointers.

Splash brother Klay Thompson had 25 points (9-of-25 FGs, 6-for-16 3s), three rebounds, and four assists. Kevon Looney grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds for his fourth game of this postseason with 20 boards or more.

Looney already had seven rebounds in his first eight minutes.

The Lakers trailed 10-2 early; however, they outscored Golden State 15-11 since then, keyed by eight points from Davis.

The Warriors hit 12 3’s, including seven in the second quarter, while the Lakers dominated the paint behind Davis (21 points on 9-of-10 FGs, nine boards).

The Lakers led by five with 50 seconds left, then gave up a 6-0 run before a jumper from James sent the Lakers into the half up 65-64.

Los Angeles dominated the paint 32-12 while making just a single 3 in eight attempts, relative to the Warriors going 13-for-30 from distance.

The end of the Lakers vs Warriors’ first half. 

The Warriors hadn’t used Draymond Green on Davis yet, and Davis had his way with Looney, up to 25 points on only 12 field goal attempts.

The start of the Lakers vs Warriors’ second half. 

Vanderbilt worked incredibly hard denying Curry the ball and contesting everything when he got it. Curry had just 13 points on 5-of-14 FGs.

The Lakers had their biggest lead of the game behind an 8-0 run featuring a pair of 3’s from Reaves (his second) and James (his first).

Troy Brown hit his first triple since Game 1 of Round 1, Los Angeles’ fifth of the night, but Thompson countered with his fifth 3.

The Lakers outscored Golden State 31-24 in the third quarter to take a 96-88 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Warriors stormed back into the game with a 14-0 run, but with a chance to tie the game up, Jordan Poole missed a 3-pointer with 9.7 seconds left as the Warriors’ rally in the closing minutes fell short.

Schroder nailed both free throws to put the Lakers up by five points, 117-112, with 2.7 seconds left, as Warriors fans were beginning to clear out of the Chase Center.

The Warriors were 19-2 in home playoff Game 1’s since 2015 before this loss against the Lakers.

Curry dropped to 15-8 against James in the playoffs.

The Lakers and Warriors haven’t played a playoff series since 1991. In seven all-time playoff matchups, Los Angeles is 6-1 (24-11 record), while the Warriors’ one win was in 1967.

The final score of the Lakers vs Warriors was 117-112, Lakers.

The Lakers will await their next opponent between the Kings and Warriors on Tuesday, May 2nd.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Jake on Twitter @jguchi_

Follow Jake on Instagram @jguchi_

Follow The Franchise on social media

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube