Warriors defeat Lakers in Game 2 as Klay Thompson scores 30 points

With a 127-100 victory on Thursday night, the Warriors, who are the defending champions, evened their Western Conference semifinal matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers at one game apiece. Klay Thompson scored 30 points with eight 3-pointers, Golden State held Anthony Davis to just 23 points, and LeBron James scored 23 points.

Stephen Curry added 20 focuses and 12 helps as Sprinkle Sibling Thompson tried to please Brilliant State make 21 additional 3-pointers — giving the Champions a NBA record for most in the initial two rounds of a season finisher series at 42. In the second round of the 2016 playoffs, James’ Cavaliers hit 40 against Atlanta.

Coach Steve Kerr changed everything around and embedded JaMychal Green into the beginning setup for Kevon Looney, who had a vocation high 23 bounce back in Game 1 however has been managing a sickness. Kerr went hard at Davis in the paint, where Golden State was thoroughly outplayed in a 117-112 loss in the opener, in an effort to provide a different look with scoring options and possibly more free-throw opportunities.

With 7:48 left in the third, Thompson’s basket gave Golden State its biggest lead, 82-64, and the Warriors went on to win. The Warriors had more points in the paint and on fast breaks. JaMychal Green scored 15 points, matching his playoff career high, and Draymond Green added 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists despite insisting he needed to be more aggressive.

The best-of-seven series movements to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Saturday.

The Lakers held a 33-26 lead thanks to James’s 14 points and 6-for-8 shooting in the opening frame. He got a loose ball and shot it for a pretty three-pointer with 7:47 left before the half, but the Warriors were too much.

Davis scored 11 points while shooting 5 for 11, grabbing 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks in Game 1, which included 30 points, 23 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocked shots on 11-for-19 shooting.

Brilliant State outscored the Lakers 84-47 over the course of the second and third quarters — keep two 40-point quarters in a similar season finisher game without precedent for establishment history.

With 3:41 left in the first, Looney made his debut from the bench to huge cheers. He got eight bounce back and scored six focuses playing only under 12 minutes.

Kerr was unconcerned going into Game 2, citing Golden State’s victory over Boston in Game 1 of the NBA Finals the year before.

In their first-round series, the Warriors also overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Sacramento, becoming the first team in history to defeat a defending champion.

KLAY’S DAY

Thompson made 8 of 11 attempts from deep, going 11 for 18. His 19 focuses in the primary half were his most in a postseason challenge since he scored 21 in Game 6 against the Rockets in 2019.

KEY SEQUENCE

At the 2:50 mark of the second quarter, the Warriors challenged an offensive foul call against Andrew Wiggins while James defended. The call was overturned, James was given a block, and a Lakers assistant got a technical during the review. The Warriors made all three free throws to take a 60-50 lead before Thompson made a 3 on the next possession.

TIP-INS

Los Angeles Lakers: Throughout the three quarters, James was -27. The only playoff game in which he had a worse plus-minus through three was Game 1 against the Pistons in the second round in 2006…. Coach Darvin Ham challenged his players to keep sprinting back on defense to curtail the Warriors’ speed and ability to fly down the floor, a significant change from Game 1. The Lakers did not take their first free throws until 1:03 before halftime, and their four attempts matched their second-fewest in a first half this season. He also played Davis and James for nearly 44 and 40 minutes, respectively, in the series opener, which was not planned.

Warriors: Gary Payton II scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds off the bench, and Golden State controlled the glass the entire game. Moses Moody added 10 points and seven rebounds. In Game 6 of the first round, JaMychal Green made his first playoff start since April 26, 2019, for the Clippers against the Warriors…. The most made by a Golden State team in a playoff game was 21 in the opening game, which tied the franchise record. Since winning the championship in 2014–15, Golden State has gone 20-6 in Game 2s.

In the Western Conference Finals, the team that defeats the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns will play the winner of this series.