NBA Playoffs: Warriors stay alive in Game 5 behind Stephen Curry, but Lakers lose Anthony Davis to head injury

The Golden State Warriors closed out the first half of Wednesday’s Game 5 with the Vintage Splash Brothers to take an 11-point lead.

When they opened the second with a 9-2 run, they were in control. With their postseason on the line, the defending NBA champions bounced back from an excruciating Game 4 loss with a 121-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers to ensure their season won’t end Wednesday.

Adding to the Lakers’ woes, they suffered a late-game head injury to Anthony Davis, putting his Game 6 status in doubt.

3 Warriors BC from the start

Golden State opened Wednesday with one of its most wins during a run of four championships, connecting on four 3-pointers in the first 4:30 of the game en route to a 17-5 lead. A Lakers team that continues to be strengthened by a midseason roster makeover responded and erased its early deficit with a 50-50 tie midway through the second quarter. It looked up to Davis over and over again flourished against a matchless Kevon Looney in the post.

But the Warriors saw the ball deep again on a 20-9 run to close the half, fueled by four 3-pointers. They finished with a 6-0 stretch in the final 30 seconds as Klay Thompson’s 3 and Stephen Curry’s buzzer sounded.

The Warriors then opened the second half by repeatedly attacking the basket and went on a 9-2 run to extend their 11-point halftime edge to 79-61. The Lakers cut into the deficit with Curry to end the third, but Golden State took an 11-point lead into the final quarter.

It was familiar territory until Monday, when the Warriors led by three and seven. But this time there was no late Lakers rally on Golden State’s home floor. Los Angeles never got closer than 9 points again. When they lost Davis to injury in the fourth, the game was over.

Anthony Davis left late with a head injury

Davis took a careless elbow to the head from Looney midway through the fourth quarter and headed to the sideline.

After sitting on the bench with his head in his hands in apparent pain, he walked into the tunnel with the Warriors leading 102-90. He looked woozy as he left the court.

Davis was He was then reportedly escorted to the locker room in a wheelchair For further evaluation before the end of the game. After some time he was expelled. After the game, head coach Darwin Hamm said Davis’ condition had improved.

The Lakers did not immediately provide a diagnosis and Davis’ status for Game 6 was not clear postgame.

Curry leads, gets plenty of help

Curry once again led the way for Golden State with 27 points and 8 assists, shooting 12-24 from the floor. But unlike Monday’s loss, in which none of his teammates scored more than 17 points, he had plenty of help.

Andrew Wiggins added 25 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists while shooting 10-18 from the floor. Draymond Green had a phenomenal offensive attack while scoring 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. He shot 7-11 from the field for his second 20-plus-point effort of the postseason. Gary Payton II added an efficient 13 points along with 6 rebounds while shooting 4-5 from the field.

Shooting problems still plagued Thompson (10 points, 3-12 from the field) and Jordan Poole (11 points, 5-14 from the field). How they respond in Los Angeles for Game 6 will be critical to Golden State’s chances of securing Game 7 at home.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 25 points and 9 rebounds and shot 9-of-17 from the field. Davis slowed from his 18-point first-half pace before his injury and finished the game with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. He did most of the damage against Looney, who was moved to the bench from Game 1 as Green anchored the post in the small-ball Warriors starting lineup.

Game 6 is scheduled for Friday night in Los Angeles.