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When the Los Angeles Lakers began the 2022-23 NBA season 2-10, the considered taking part in basketball within the month of Could was a pipe dream.
Now, the Lakers have an opportunity to be taking part in in June after defeating the Golden State Warriors in six video games, sending Steph Curry and the defending NBA champions residence Friday night time with a 122-101 victory.
Stephen Curry, #30 of the Golden State Warriors, reacts after shedding to the Los Angeles Lakers throughout the Western Convention Semifinal Playoff recreation at Crypto.com Area on Could 12, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers eradicated the Warriors, 122-101. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Pictures)
LeBron James led the Lakers in scoring, pouring in 30 factors whereas including 9 rebounds and 9 assists.
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“It was nice to have the ability to play considered one of our most efficient games, considered one of our greatest video games of the sequence, and it began due to the defensive matchup we had,” James mentioned.
“We defended at a excessive degree, and after we do this, we may be extraordinarily good. I believed we have been locked in for as near 48 minutes as doable tonight.”
Lakers massive man Anthony Davis was dominant on the boards, grabbing 20 rebounds on the night time because the Lakers superior to the Western Convention Finals for the primary time for the reason that pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Anthony Davis, #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers, is hugged by LeBron James, #6, throughout the fourth quarter in opposition to the Golden State Warriors in Recreation Six of the Western Convention Semifinal Playoffs at Crypto.com Area on Could 12, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (Harry How/Getty Pictures)
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Second-year participant Austin Reaves, who went undrafted out of faculty, scored 23 factors, together with a half-court buzzer-beater to finish the primary half.
“It’s particular to get that win to beat a crew that’s so established and so good,” Reaves mentioned. “I believe the seeding issues are simply numbers. When you may have guys like Bron and AD who’ve gained championships, you all the time really feel like you may have an opportunity, particularly with the roster that we’ve got, the expertise that we’ve got.”
The loss ends the repeat hopes for the Warriors, who struggled all season to appear to be a crew prepared for another championship run.
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LeBron James, #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers, celebrates throughout Recreation Six of the Western Convention Semi-Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs in opposition to the Golden State Warriors on Could 12, 2023, at Crypto.com Area in Los Angeles, California. (Noah Graham/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures)
Whereas Golden State completed the common season because the sixth seed with a report of 44-38, the Warriors struggled mightily on the street, ending the season with the third-worst street report within the Western Convention.
“The higher crew gained, and I can’t fault our gamers for the trouble,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr mentioned. “As a result of these guys are such opponents, it’s going to harm. However that’s why we play: To compete in opposition to one of the best and see what we’ve received. Didn’t fairly have sufficient, but it surely wasn’t for an absence of coronary heart or effort.”
The Lakers will face the one-seed Denver Nuggets within the Convention Finals, with Recreation 1 scheduled for Tuesday, Could sixteenth.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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