FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Warriors - Game 65

Video Credit: NBA

FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Warriors – Game 65

Los Angeles Lakers (31-34) | Golden State Warriors (34-31)

The Los Angeles Lakers battled their way to a crucial victory over the Golden State Warriors 113-105

The Lakers vs Warriors played Sunday afternoon.

Lakers vs Warriors Anthony Davis and LeBron James — *Photo Credit: Jae C. Hong/AP*

This was an enormous win for the Los Angeles Lakers as they improved to 2-2 since LeBron James’ right foot injury and 31-34 overall. Anthony Davis played out of his mind, totaling 39 points (14-for-25 FGs, 1-for-3 3s, 10-for-13 FTs), eight rebounds, six assists, and two blocks.

Davis clinched the game with a massive bucket. Faced up against Draymond Green, Davis drove baseline and hit a floater to give the Lakers a 107-101 lead with 48.9 seconds left.

Davis, over the last four games, has averaged: 33.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 blocks, and 54.7 percent from the field.

Darvin Ham said that Davis is “pain-free” and in a “really great rhythm” right now, “He’s been battling through it all, and I just feel like he’s in a great, great place.”

Anthony Davis was dominant in the Lakers vs Warriors game Sunday.

“I feel very comfortable. Confident as always. It’s good to see the ball going through on all levels of the floor,” Davis said. “Just trying to do my part. I feel good; I feel really good.”

The start of the Lakers vs Warriors first half

Lakers vs Warriors Anthony Davis — *Photo Credit: Jae C. Hong/AP*

The Lakers were also without D’Angelo Russell for the fifth straight game. However, six Lakers scored in double figures to pick up the slack. Austin Reaves made enormous contributions off the bench, finishing with 16 points (5-for-9 FGs, 3-for-5 3s, 3-for-4 FTs) and eight assists.

A critical stretch from Reaves helped the Lakers take a 78-72 lead out of the third quarter. He hit a pair of 3’s, notched a steal, and tallied his fifth assist in the final four minutes of the third quarter.

“We have the utmost confidence in Austin and what he brings to the table,” Ham said. “He was phenomenal tonight. His competitive spirit was through the roof.”

While the Lakers’ second unit struggled to score outside of Reaves, the starting lineup did their part, as all the starters scored in double figures.

Jarred Vanderbilt totaled 10 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. Dennis Schroder had 11 points and six assists. Malik Beasley finished with 12 points and three rebounds. Troy Brown Jr. had 14 points and eight rebounds.

“We know the position we’re in, so we’re fighting every night to try and make the playoffs,” Brown said postgame.

The end of the Lakers vs Warriors first half

“I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves,” said Reaves about Brown.

The start of the Lakers vs Warriors second half

Lakers vs Warriors Stephon Curry — *Photo Credit: Jae C. Hong/AP*

The Lakers found success against the Warriors in their two previous meetings, but Stephen Curry didn’t play in either matchup. Curry returned to action for the first time in a month, and he finished with 27 points (8-for-20 FGs, 5-for-13 3s, 6-for-6 FTs) and six assists. The other splash brother, Klay Thompson, had 22 points (8-for-18 FGs, 4-for-10 3s), five rebounds, and three assists.

“I had a nice block on him, and then he probably had like seven straight,” Reaves said when asked about Curry. “He’s obviously a really good player, and you just try to make it hard on him. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it don’t.”

Back-to-back 3s from Curry and Thompson made this a two-point game, 103-101, with 1:45 left. The Lakers walked the ball up the floor over the previous two possessions, wasting the clock but not running much offense—a bad crunch-time habit of theirs.

Davis on the Warriors, “It’s never over against them until the clock hits triple zeroes, and we tried to play like that tonight.”

The Lakers took a 33-18 lead out of the first quarter, as neither team managed to score in the final two minutes of the period. However, Golden State opened the second quarter on an 11-2 run.

Golden State crushed Los Angeles 36-22 in the second. Davis already had 22 points, but no other Laker was in double figures just yet.

The Lakers didn’t take advantage when their opponent struggled to hit shots. Instead, they went ice-cold themselves and made poor offensive decisions. Up next are the Memphis Grizzlies.

Something to monitor: Mo Bamba suffered a left ankle sprain and didn’t return to the game.

The Lakers vs Warriors final score was 113-105