#Lakers can’t match Warriors’ balance, energy in Game 5 loss – Press Enterprise #Usa #Miami #Nyc #Houston #Uk #Es

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SAN FRANCISCO — This wasn’t actually a re-run, but it sure seemed like it.

It wasn’t as if the Lakers just rolled the ball onto the court and hoped for the best.

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

But the Lakers’ lackluster 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 at times 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 decisive Game 6 at Crypto.com Arena. Can they repeat that type of resounding victory in Game 6 against the Warriors when the series returns to Los Angeles? The Lakers can eliminate the defending 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 overcame a sluggish start Wednesday, but the Warriors maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second half, getting a far more balanced effort than they did 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 lead to 3-2.

Steph Curry led the Warriors with 27 points on 12-for-24 shooting, and added eight assists. Andrew Wiggins had 25 points and Draymond Green had 20. Golden State led by as many 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 final 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 first half.

“Everyone saw he took a shot to the head, but we just checked in on him,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “He seems to be doing really good already. That’s the status of it right now.”

Golden State found itself in a precarious situation after its Game 4 loss.

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

Both happened during the 2016 playoffs.

Warriors fans and observers wondered if the franchise’s run would come to an end with a first-round loss to the upstart Sacramento Kings, but Curry scored 50 points in the decisive Game 7 and Golden State advanced to face James and the Lakers in a highly anticipated second-round matchup.

But with the Warriors down 3-1 to the Lakers, concerns were raised anew that this would be the end of the Golden State dynasty, after four 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 expected, Golden State has had its hands full trying to neutralize James and Davis. But the Lakers’ depth was evident in the form of impactful 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 reason for the Lakers’ series lead.

Flopping.

“There was definitely some gamesmanship,” Kerr said, referring specifically to the offensive foul Walker drew on Green with 3½ minutes remaining in the Lakers’ 104-101 victory in Game 4. “Look, I give the Lakers credit. If you can sell a call in this league, then do it. Whatever it takes to win.”

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

“We don’t teach flopping,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said on TNT’s broadcast when asked for a response to Kerr’s comments.

JAMES, CURRY HONORED

James was named to the All-NBA third team and Curry was selected to the second team. It’s the 19th consecutive time in James’ 20-year career that he’s been picked for an all-league team, extending his league record. He’s been selected in each of his five seasons with the Lakers.

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JAMES, CURRY HONORED

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