The Golden State Warriors salvaged their season. The Los Angeles Lakers still competed, but now face questions about possible concerns over Anthony Davis’ durability.
Below are five takeaways in the Warriors’ 121-106 win over the Lakers in Game 5 of their second-round series on Wednesday. (The Lakers host the Warriors for Game 6 on Friday in LA).
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry received some offensive help
Unlike in the Warriors’ Game 4 loss, Curry did not feel the burden with carrying the team. The Warriors featured plenty of offensive balance with Curry (27 points), Andrew Wiggins (25), Draymond Green (20), Gary Payton II (13) and Klay Thompson (10) all scoring in double figures.
After going scoreless with four missed shots in only 10 minutes in Game 4, Warriors guard Jordan Poole also redeemed himself a bit (11 points on 5-for-14 shooting). Poole still took a few erratic shots. But he mostly avoided forcing the issue, while also canning open looks.
Otherwise, the Warriors became dangerous because of their strong ball movement. Curry nailed shots with accuracy. Despite his five turnovers, Green became the team’s offensive engine with quality passes and making open shots when the Lakers concentrated on the team’s shooters. Wiggins increased his aggressiveness with attacking the basket to ensure seven rebounds and numerous putbacks.
In his second consecutive playoff start, Payton helped the Warriors spread the floor. Thompson still has not snapped out of his shooting slump, but his missed shots at least came within the flow of the offense.
Related: Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis exits Game 5 with head injury
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are wearing down
The Lakers’ stars remained highly productive. James finished with 25 points on 9-for-17 shooting along with nine rebounds and three assists. Davis added 23 points on a 10-for-18 clip with nine rebounds. But both James and Davis showed concerning signs about their durability.
Davis went to the entrance tunnel with 6:35 left in the game shortly after Warriors forward Kevon Looney inadvertently elbowed him on the left side of his face. After converting on a putback with 16.1 seconds left in the third quarter, James appeared to favor his left foot.
Davis’ issues appear more serious. He did not play the rest of the game, and TNT reported that he had to be wheelchaired to the locker room. James played in the fourth quarter until Lakers coach Darvin Ham emptied his bench with 2:47 remaining. Given that Game 6 takes place on Friday, both Davis and James face question marks about their overall health.
It’s absurd that some in the media suggested that the Lakers should have preemptively rested James and Davis in Game 5 to get a head start with rest. Nothing is ever guaranteed in the playoffs, particularly against the defending champions. To the Lakers’ credit, they stayed within striking distance throughout the game.
Nonetheless, James and Davis might face some challenges after spending the last week playing every other night. As for Davis, clarity should emerge on how serious of an injury he suffered.
Golden State Warriors played at a fast pace
Both teams played mostly nip-and-tuck throughout the first half. But after the game was tied at 54 with 4:22 left in the second quarter, the Warriors created cushion by going on a 25-7 run. The Warriors executed this mainly by featuring a small lineup both to draw Davis away from the basket and to force a track meet. The Lakers are much more effective playing in the half-court both because of their interior presence and to ensure that James and Davis don’t burn out.
Meanwhile, the Warriors can create separation when they move at a fast pace so that they can cash in from deep and at the rim in transition.
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Turnovers and foul trouble an issue for both teams
The game may have been riveting and competitive. It wasn’t pretty, though. The Lakers committed 18 fouls and 14 turnovers, while the Warriors had 17 fouls and 14 turnovers. The Lakers (12-for-15) and Warriors (14-for-15) essentially canceled each other out at the free-throw line. But that development favored the Warriors considering their previous struggles with drawing trips to the line.
The Warriors also punished the Lakers for their miscues far more than the Lakers did to the Warriors for their mistakes.
Related: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers ratings bonanza
Los Angeles Lakers had other role players elevate their game
Lakers guard Lonnie Walker IV didn’t become a hero again as he was in Game 4. He had only four points on 2-for-6 shooting in Game 5 after scoring all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter in the Lakers’ Game 4 win.
The Lakers have lacked consistency with their role players, but they have enough of a revolving door that at least one or two will excel. This time around, that honor belonged to D’Angelo Russell (15 points on 6-for-10 shooting), Austin Reaves (15 points, seven rebounds, five assists) and Dennis Schroder (14 points, four assists).
Mark Medina is an NBA Insider for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.