The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers faced off in a highly anticipated play-in game on Wednesday night. The winner of the game would secure the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs, while the loser would have to play another game to secure their spot.
In the end, it was the Lakers who came out on top, thanks in large part to a dominant performance from LeBron James. The Lakers’ star forward scored 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists, becoming the first player in NBA history to record a triple-double in a play-in game.
After the game, Warriors superstar Stephen Curry had some thoughts on the Lakers’ performance. “The Lakers are in control at this point in the sixth game,” Curry said. “They played like the experienced championship team that they are. They were just better tonight.”
Curry, who had an impressive game himself with 37 points, acknowledged that the Lakers were the better team on the night. The Warriors struggled to find their rhythm offensively, shooting just 38% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ defense was suffocating, holding the Warriors to just 100 points on the night.
Despite the loss, Curry remained optimistic about the Warriors’ chances moving forward. “We’re still alive, and that’s all that matters,” he said. “We have another chance to make the playoffs, and we’re going to take advantage of it.”
The Warriors will now face the Memphis Grizzlies in a win-or-go-home game on Friday night. The winner of that game will secure the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
For the Lakers, the win over the Warriors was a statement victory. After a tumultuous regular season marred by injuries, the looked like the team that many expected them to be coming into the season. James was his usual dominant self, while Anthony Davis added 25 points and 12 rebounds.
Lakers supporting cast also stepped up in a big way
The supporting cast also stepped up in a big way. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 13 points and played solid defense on Curry, while Alex Caruso chipped in 14 points off the bench. The role players will be crucial moving forward, as they look to make a deep playoff run.
Despite the win, the still have some issues to address. Davis, who has been battling injuries all season, appeared to tweak his ankle in the second half and was seen limping after the game. The will need Davis to be healthy and at his best if they hope to make a run at the championship.
The will also need to address their inconsistent three-point shooting. The shot just 28% from three-point range on the night, and have been one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league this season. If the hope to beat the top teams in the Western Conference, they will need to improve their shooting from beyond the arc.
In conclusion, the win over the Warriors was a big statement victory. James and Davis looked like their dominant selves, while the supporting cast stepped up in a big way. The will need to address their injury concerns and improve their three-point shooting if they hope to make a deep playoff run. Meanwhile, the Warriors still have a chance to make the playoffs, and Curry remains optimistic about their chances moving forward. The NBA playoffs are just getting started, and there’s sure to be plenty of drama and excitement in the coming weeks.
