FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Warriors - Game 2 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Warriors – Game 2 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

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

 

The Los Angeles Lakers were trounced by the Golden State Warriors 127-100, tying the series at 1-1.

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

The Golden State Warriors cruised to victory in Game 2, 127-100, against the Los Angeles Lakers to even the series at 1-1. 

“You could tell they came out just ready to try to secure a game,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said, “and again not go back to our place down 0-2.”

LeBron James had 23 points (10-of-18 FGs, 3-for-8 3s), seven rebounds, and three assists. 

“They made their adjustments. We knew they were going to do that. That’s what a championship team does,” James said. “They held serve on their home court tonight.”

James shot 6-for-8 in the first quarter with a pair of 3s for 14 points as the Lakers led 33-26. That was the highest-scoring first quarter in the playoffs for James since he had 21 points on May 15th, 2018, against the Boston Celtics.

This is also the 49th time in James’ career that he’s scored 20+ points in the first half of a playoff game.

Anthony Davis struggled in this one

Anthony Davis, on the other hand, followed up his excellent Game 1 performance with 11 points while shooting 5-for-11 from the field, seven rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.

The start of the Lakers vs Warriors’ first half. 

“We’ll be better,” Davis said ahead of Game 3. “I’ll be better.”

Rui Hachimura, off the bench, had 21 points (8-of-14 FGs, 4-for-6 3s) and five rebounds.

“It was hard for us to guard four shooters,” Lakers forward Hachimura said. “Defensively, they were more aggressive, I feel like. They had all the loose balls and the rebounds and everything.”

The Warriors made 21 3s (Matching their Game 1 total), with eight of those 3s coming from Klay Thompson, who finished the game with 30 points (11-of-18 FGs, 8-for-11 3s) and three rebounds.

“I was just trying to get the crowd going,” Thompson said. “It’s always fun when you shoot the ball well. It’s even better when you couple that with a win.”

The end of the Lakers vs Warriors’ first half. 

Thompson’s 19 points in the first half were his most in a postseason game since he scored 21 points in Game 6 against the Houston Rockets in 2019.

The start of the Lakers vs Warriors’ second half. 

Stephen Curry only had one assist in Game 1, as he played more off the ball, and Jarred Vanderbilt made it difficult for him to facilitate. He was the primary playmaker in Game 2, as Curry totaled 12 assists, 20 points (7-of-12 FGs, 3-for-5 3s), and four rebounds.

The Warriors opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run to take the lead back, 36-35, with 9:17 left in the first half.

After holding Golden State to 26 points in the first, Los Angeles gave up 41 in the second quarter, in which the Warriors played with the desperation of a home team down 1-0, and the Lakers didn’t match the energy.

Thompson had 14 of his 30 points in the second quarter alone and was 5-for-7 from 3.

Golden State adjusted by putting Curry on the ball when he was mainly off the ball last game, with Vanderbilt denying him everywhere he could. Curry’s teammates got wide-open shots at the rim and on kick outs as a result, and they were hitting them.

Golden State blew this game open, as the Warriors made eight of their 21 3s in the third quarter.

Golden State outscored the Lakers 84-47 over the second and third quarters, recording two 40-point quarters in the same playoff game for the first time in franchise history.

With the Lakers down 30 entering the fourth quarter, James (28 minutes) and Davis (33) took their seat on the bench to get ready for Game 3 on Saturday in Los Angeles.

The Lakers will have to find an answer as they return home. However, luckily they remain in the driver’s seat as they still have the home-court advantage thanks to their Game 1 win.

The final score of the Lakers vs Warriors was 127-100, Warriors.

The Lakers will now head back home to take on the Warriors on Saturday, May 6th, at 5:30 p.m. PT.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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