Lakers can't match Warriors' balance, energy in Video game 5 loss

SAN FRANCISCO-- This wasn't really a re-run, however it sure looked like it.

It wasn't as if the Lakers simply rolled the ball onto the court and hoped for the very best.

It wasn't exactly a repeat of an earlier Game 5 clunker.

However the Lakers' dull 121-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Chase Center had the look and feel sometimes of their 116-99 defeat in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 26 at FedEx Forum.

The Lakers then smoked the Grizzlies by 40 points in the definitive Game 6 at Crypto.com Arena. Can they duplicate that kind of definite triumph in Game 6 versus the Warriors when the series go back to Los Angeles? The Lakers can get rid of the protecting champs with a victory on Friday night.

Game 7, if necessary, would be Sunday afternoon in San Francisco.

The winner of the Lakers-Warriors series advances to play either the Denver Nuggets or the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference finals next week. The Nuggets hold a 3-2 series lead over the Suns after a 118-102 victory in Game 5 on Tuesday in Denver. Game 6 is Thursday in Phoenix.

The Lakers got rid of a sluggish start Wednesday, but the Warriors maintained a double-digit lead for the majority of the 2nd half, getting a far more well balanced effort than they performed in either Game 3 or 4 in Los Angeles. Each of the Golden State starters scored 10 points or more in narrowing the Lakers' series result in 3-2.

Steph Curry led the Warriors with 27 points on 12-for-24 shooting, and added eight helps. Andrew Wiggins had 25 points and Draymond Green had 20. Golden State led by as lots of as 18 points in the third quarter, putting the game away with a determined push after halftime.

LeBron James scored 25 points on 10-for-18 shooting to lead the Lakers, who played the last 7:34 of the game without Anthony Davis, who was hit by an accidental elbow from the Warriors' Kevon Looney on a play near the basket. Davis scored 18 of his 23 points in the very first half.

" Everyone saw he conjectured to the head, however we just checked in on him," Lakers coach Darvin Ham stated. "He seems to be doing really excellent currently. That's the status of it today."

Golden State discovered itself in a precarious scenario after its Game 4 loss.

Teams have actually rallied to win a series when routing 3-1 only 13 times in NBA playoff history, with the Warriors contributing in that situation twice. They came back to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder after routing 3-1 and then misused a 3-1 lead against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Both taken place throughout the 2016 playoffs.

Warriors fans and observers questioned if the franchise's run would pertain to an end with a first-round loss to the upstart Sacramento Kings, however Curry scored 50 points in the decisive Game 7 and Golden State advanced to deal with James and the Lakers in an extremely anticipated second-round match.

With the Warriors down 3-1 to the Lakers, issues were raised anew that this would be the end of the Golden State dynasty, after 4 NBA championships. After all, the Warriors' dynastic core of players isn't as young as it used to be. Curry is 35 and Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are each 33.

As anticipated, Golden State has had its hands complete attempting to neutralize James and Davis. But the Lakers' depth appeared in the form of impactful video games from D'Angelo Russell in their 30-point victory in Game 3 and Lonnie Walker IV in rallying for a win in Game 4-- both at Crypto.com Arena.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr pointed out another factor for the Lakers' series lead.

Tumbling.

" There was absolutely some gamesmanship," Kerr said, referring particularly to the offending foul Walker drew on Green with 3 1/2 minutes staying in the Lakers' 104-101 success in Game 4. "Look, I provide the Lakers credit.

The Lakers shrugged it off and went to work attempting to end the series.

"We don't teach tumbling," Lakers coach Darvin Ham stated on TNT's broadcast when requested for a reaction to Kerr's remarks.

JAMES, CURRY HONORED

James was named to the All-NBA 3rd team and Curry was picked to the second team. It's the 19th successive time in James' 20-year profession that he's been picked for an all-league team, extending his league record. He's been selected in each of his 5 seasons with the Lakers.