Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs between Warriors and Lakers was the Lakers game all the way. They beat Warriors 104-101 in a significant game to be ahead 3-1 in the series. Due to a significant 14-6 run to end the second quarter, the Warriors’ lead was just three points at the break on Monday night. Stephen Curry concluded the game with 31 points, and the Warriors were in the lead at the end of the third, despite a brief spell of stalemate between the two teams. Curry also threw a crazy assist to Donte DiVincenzo late in the quarter to halt a Lakers rally.
The Turnaround for Lakers by Lonnie Walker
But as the fourth quarter got underway, that advantage vanished almost immediately. Walker was a big part of the 11-4 run by the Lakers to start the third, which immediately knotted the game. Lonnie Walker and James then helped the Lakers secure the victory by keeping the Warriors to just one Curry layup in the game’s final three minutes.
LeBron was all praises for the kid, “For him to be as young as he is, for him to have that professionalism, to come out and stay ready when his number was called, we don’t win this game without Lonnie Walker tonight, that’s for sure,” he mentioned on TNT.
Walker on the other hand showed he is raring to go, “This is something that I’ve been dreaming of my entire life and manifesting it,” . “With due diligence and mental fortitude, I got to be able to show what I was capable of doing.”
The Unfortunate Curry Misses on Lakers
Curry and the Warriors also had a few solid chances to score near the finish. Curry missed a pair of baskets with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game that would have given them the lead back. However, following those missed, Walker made two free throws, and Draymond Green committed a turnover to give the Lakers the victory.
The Lakers Stars of the Game
James had 27 points and 9 rebounds to lead the Lakers to victory. Anthony Davis finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds after scoring 19 points in the first half. Austin Reeves scored 21 points in total. In the final period, the Lakers outscored the Warriors 27-17.
The Warriors Stars of the Game
This was Curry’s third postseason triple-double in his career, and it was a great performance. He added 10 rebounds and 14 assists as well. With three 3-pointers, Klay Thompson finished with 9 points, and Andrew Wiggins contributed 17 points. The Warriors only made 6-of-17 from the field and 12-of-41 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter triumph.
Green and Payton of Warriors
Soon after the game began at Crypto.com Arena, Warriors guard Gary Payton II abruptly straightened out while playing defence and gestured towards the Warriors bench. It was obvious that something was wrong, but it was unclear what. Payton, however, simply strolled off the field and re-entered the locker room after the Warriors made the stop and moved the play to the other end.
But his other four teammates were unaware that Payton had left. As a result, Green made a pretty peculiar pass to a Lakers assistant coach.
JaMychal Green was benched in favour of Payton. In this series, he played a little over 11 minutes a game on average. To his credit, Payton quickly picked up where he left off and carried on with the game. He scored 15 points overall and made 7 of his 9 field goal attempts.
The Injury for Warriors
The Warriors second half was not without injury. James bumped Green resulting in Green crashing down. James got a common foul for it and fortunately Green bounced back after a while. Green finished the game with 10 rebounds and 8 points. The series’ fifth game is scheduled for Wednesday night in San Francisco’s Chase Centre. The Lakers will go to the Western Conference finals for the first time since they won the championship at Walt Disney World in 2020, if they triumph.
