Los Angeles (USA), May 8 (EFE) defending NBA champions (3-1).
Without much significance in the Los Angeles rotation, Walker signed a brilliant and amazing performance of those that mark an entire career.
Walker did not score a single point in the first three quarters but in the last quarter he unleashed a memorable storm with 15 points (6 of 9 on shots) that gave the Lakers an epic and invaluable victory.
Golden State is now forced to win the next three games (two at home and one away) to avoid going on vacation, but the statistics are not on their side: in league history, only 13 of the 277 times with a 3-1 the team that was losing managed to overcome the series.
In a very exciting duel until the end, these Lakers who continue to leave everyone speechless and who are only one win away from the Western final had 27 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists from LeBron James; 23 points and 15 rebounds from Anthony Davis; and 21 goals from Austin Reaves.
Stephen Curry sealed a triple-double for the Warriors (31 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists) but his appalling 3-of-14 3-pointer was a reflection of the Warriors’ terrible night on the perimeter (12-of-41).
Klay Thompson also had a very poor evening (9 points on 3 of 11 shooting) and Jordan Poole left with 0 points.
Game 5 will be played on Wednesday in San Francisco.
WALKER DECIDE
Steve Kerr opted for Gary Payton as a novelty in the quintet and the Warriors showed themselves to be a dynamic, intense team and with a lot of effort at the start despite the fact that Andrew Wiggins added two fouls in just over two minutes.
In any case, the defenses controlled an arid and rocky first quarter (22-21), with little brilliance in attack and many errors by both teams.
With the game on low-scoring ground that favored the Lakers, the pace didn’t pick up much in the second quarter.
There were some sparks – such as a 4-8 start for the Warriors, Davis’ dominance in the area or two triples by LeBron and Reaves – but the match was still very balanced (38-38 with 4.37 for the break).
In the last minutes, Davis and Curry took action on the matter.
The center became huge in the paint against some Warriors who racked their brains to try to stop him (19 points and 6 rebounds in the first half) while the point guard stepped on the accelerator with 14 points only in the second period and went to the locker room bordering on triple-double (17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists).
With all this, Golden State arrived at the break ahead (49-52) after a generally not very attractive first half and a horror movie from the triple (2 of 10 for the locals and 5 of 19 for the visitors).
Between LeBron and a Reaves recovered after a frustrating first half, the Lakers started the third quarter on the right foot and retook control of the score (59-57) with a 10-5 run in three minutes.
That joy lasted a sigh for the Angelenos, who then conceded a tough 0-11 run with 7 points followed by a surprising Payton (59-68 with 7.07 for the break).
Golden State gained momentum and reached, in a flash, at +12 with Wiggins jumping on the bandwagon of an already more oiled offense.
However, Curry’s men, who excelled with a delicious pass from behind to Donte DiVincenzo, did not finish breaking the game because of a LeBron who threw the Lakers behind him before the last quarter (77-84). .
Throughout the night, those in purple and gold struggled to hinder the Warriors’ agile ball circulation, especially in the cuts along the baseline.
But they couldn’t be blamed for their lack of attitude, so much so that they opened the fourth period with a solid 7-0 to level the match with ten minutes left and the Los Angeles fans already on their feet.
Faced with the doubts of his teammates, Curry took responsibility, continued to dish out assists with astonishing ease and hit another 3-pointer shortly after taking a LeBron block.
But then came the time of a very unusual suspect: Walker, fabulous and devastating with 9 points in just over four minutes (94-94 with 5.01 on the clock).
Another basket from Walker and LeBron from the personal put the locals at +3, but Curry left his team on the brink of a comeback at the last minute (102-101).
Then came the nerves.
LeBron missed a 3-pointer, Curry missed two shots in the last 30 seconds, Draymond Green fumbled a key ball and the Lakers, with Walker as unexpected captain, finally claimed victory.
David Villafranca
