FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Warriors - Game 5 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Warriors – Game 5 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

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

 

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors forced Game 6 with their 121-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

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

The Los Angeles Lakers dropped Game 5 against the Golden State Warriors, but they still hold a 3-2 series advantage. Anthony Davis’ health for Game 6 is the most important thing to remember, as his potential absence would dramatically change the series.

“He took a shot to the head,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of Davis. “He seems to be doing really good already. That’s where he’s at and the status of it right now.”

Davis took an elbow from Kevon Looney in the middle of the fourth quarter. Davis was escorted back to the locker room and was done for the night due to that head injury. However, there wasn’t any point in bringing him back anyway.

Anthony Davis’ injury needs to be monitored

“I didn’t see the shot. I just saw the aftermath,” LeBron James said of Davis. “The medical team said he’s doing better, so that’s what matters the most.”

The start of the Lakers vs Warriors’ first half. 

Davis was escorted away in a wheelchair for further evaluation postgame. However, it is expected that no serious damage happened to him. Davis, however, was able to walk out of the Lakers’ locker room to the team bus.

Before exiting the game, Davis put on an excellent offensive display, totaling 23 points (10-of-18 FGs), nine rebounds, and three assists in 32 minutes of play. Davis was also a game-worst -22 in +/-.

James followed suit, finishing with 25 points (9-of-17 FGs, 3-for-7 3s), nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 39 minutes of play.

James entered this game shooting a career playoff low from 3, at 16-for-70 (22.9 percent). However, he was 3-for-4 from distance in the first half. He also entered the game second in the playoffs from 2-point range at 61.7 percent.

For Golden State, Stephen Curry had 27 points and eight assists, while Andrew Wiggins added 25 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Draymond Green contributed 20 points and ten rebounds. Jordan Poole came off the bench and hit his first three since Game 1 after going 0-for-8 the previous three games.

Klay Thompson struggled again. He went 3-for-11 in their Game 4 loss to mark just the eighth time in his 150 postseason games that he scored in single digits, with three of the previous seven coming before Steve Kerr became coach in 2014.

Los Angeles failed twice to secure defensive rebounds off Warriors misses, with Austin Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt miscommunicating, resulting in two made 3’s for Golden State, pushing the Warriors to a 17-5 start.

The end of the Lakers vs Warriors’ first half. 

The Lakers looked like they decided that they wanted to play on Friday, as their poor decision-making put them into a hole early.

The start of the Lakers vs Warriors’ second half. 

However, Los Angeles withstood that hot start from Golden State. After 12 minutes, the Lakers only trailed 32-28, not a steep margin considering that the Warriors were on fire from 3 (7-for-12).

A rough close to the second quarter for Los Angeles carried over into the third quarter, as they couldn’t match Golden State’s energy, especially in transition, and found themselves down 79-61. With defense being a real struggle, the Lakers cleared their bench.

“We played the same way we always play,” Ham said of Game 5’s officiating. “I don’t know what’s a foul anymore.”

“Our game is to attack the paint. We don’t mind the contact,” James said of Kerr’s comments after Game 4, if they were impactful in having fewer free throws. “We’re not a team that goes out there looking for flopping opportunities. The game is always won in between the four lines. We need to be better.”

James made the cut for the All-NBA Third Team, his 19th consecutive All-NBA selection, while Davis failed to make an All-NBA team this season.

The Lakers are undefeated at home this postseason and can advance to the Conference Finals with a win.

“Our job is to try and be 1-0 on Friday,” James said. “We look forward to that opportunity.”

The final score of the Lakers vs Warriors was 121-106, Warriors.

The Lakers will now face the Warriors on Friday, May 12th, at 7:00 p.m. PT.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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