Thompson Achieves 30, Warriors Adapt to Defeat Lakers 127-100

Klay Thompson's 30 points with eight 3-pointers help Golden State Warriors level their Western Conference semifinal with LA Lakers, while setting a new NBA record for most 3-pointers in playoff series.

Thompson Achieves 30, Warriors Adapt to Defeat Lakers 127-100
By Elliot Chen

May 5, 2023

Klay Thompson played a stellar game, scoring 30 points with eight 3-pointers, as the defending champion Golden State Warriors leveled their Western Conference semifinal against the Los Angeles Lakers with a 127-100 win on Thursday night. Stephen Curry added 20 points and 12 assists, and the Warriors set a new NBA record for the most 3-pointers made in the first two games of a playoff series, at 42. The team's head coach, Steve Kerr, made some strategic changes in the lineup, which helped the Warriors take control of the game.

Golden State outscored the Lakers 84-47 over the second and third quarters, resulting in a game-changing lead. The Lakers' performance was not up to par, with LeBron James scoring only 23 points and Anthony Davis finishing the game with 11 points. Draymond Green contributed 11 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, while JaMychal Green matched his playoff career high with 15 points.

The series will move to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Saturday. The Warriors had lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals at home to Boston last year, but still won the championship. They also rallied from a 2-0 deficit in their first-round series to beat Sacramento, a first for a defending champion. Thompson shot 11 for 18 and 8 of 11 from deep, with his 19 points in the first half being the most in a postseason contest since 2019 against the Rockets.

Thompson Achieves 30, Warriors Adapt to Defeat Lakers 127-100

Lakers Coach Darvin Ham challenged his players to improve their defense in the series opener, but Golden State's speed and performance were overwhelming. The Lakers had a hard time keeping up, with James and Davis playing longer minutes than planned in the series opener, putting in nearly 44 for Davis and 40 for James.

Off the bench, the Warriors saw Moses Moody adding 10 points and seven rebounds, and Gary Payton II contributing seven points and five boards. JaMychal Green earned his first playoff start since April 26, 2019, for the Clippers against the Warriors in Game 6 of the first round. The Warriors' 21 3s in the opener matched the most in franchise history for a playoff game, and their Game 2 performance extended their winning streak, as they improved to a 20-6 in Game 2s since the 2014-15 title run.