LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 127-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semi-finals, giving the Lakers a 2-1 lead.
Although James did not attempt a shot from the field in the first quarter, he ended up scoring 21 points. Anthony Davis contributed 25 points and 13 rebounds to help secure the win for the Lakers. Davis emphasized the importance of defense after the game, stating that their ability to hold the Warriors to 97 points was key to their success.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat defeated the New York Knicks 105-86 in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. Jimmy Butler, who missed game two due to an ankle injury, returned and scored 28 points, making nine of 21 shots from the floor and achieving 10 for 11 from the free-throw line. The Heat and Knicks will play again on Tuesday at 00:30 BST, while the Lakers and Warriors will face off again on the same day at 03:00.
Davis acknowledged that the Lakers will face a tough challenge in the next game against the Warriors, who are the defending champions, and emphasized the need for his team to maintain the same mindset and level of play they displayed in game three. Both series are far from over, and the teams will need to continue to battle if they want to advance to the next round of the playoffs.
