Lakers win nail biter over Warriors; take 3-1 lead

by Ben Cooper

 

The Lakers got a 104-101 nail biter victory over the Warriors in Game 4. This was a pivotal game in the series, as LA now has a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Golden State made a change to their starting lineup, with Gary Payton II inserted. Payton II was put in the lineup to disrupt D’Angelo Russell. This was effective as Russell struggled, finishing with just four points on 1-10 shooting.

Payton II also helped offensively as the Warriors hunted Anthony Davis in the pick-and-roll to take him away from the paint, where he has been dominant at blocking and disrupting shots.

This was very effective, as Golden State had a fluid offense throughout most of the game.

In the 2nd half, Darvin Ham made an adjustment, having Davis defend Andrew Wiggins, allowing him to roam a little more compared to the first half.

Davis was aggressive offensively in the first half, but the Lakers failed to get him the ball down the stretch. He finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and three steals.

In the second half, LeBron James was more aggressive, hunting matchups, where Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson would switch on to him. James had 27 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in his best overall game this series.

Lonnie Walker IV gave LA big minutes in the 4th quarter. Walker IV scored all his 15 points in the 4th quarter, including a clutch mid-range jump shot and the game-sealing free throws. It was a clutch performance from Walker IV, who re-entered the rotation in Game 3 after barely playing after the trade deadline.

James stated postgame, "We don't win this game without Lonnie Walker, for sure."

Austin Reaves also had a good game, with a great third quarter. He ended the game with 21 points.

On the other side, it was Stephen Curry with his best game of the series. Curry had his third career playoff triple-double with 31 points, ten rebounds, and 14 assists.

Throughout the game, Curry exposed Davis in the pick-and-roll. However, on a possession in the final minute, Davis switched on Curry and forced up two tough shots, which he missed.

The Lakers were able to get a big win with a nail biter over the Warriors. They now have a 3-1 lead as they head back to San Francisco with a chance to close it out in Game 5.

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