Game 2 Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers - 5/4/23

DEFEND WARRIORS GROUND
After dropping Game 1 for the second time in these playoffs, the Warriors will attempt to bounce back in Game 2 at Chase Center on Thursday. The Lakers took homecourt advantage from the Warriors in Game 1, but the Dubs can even the series in Game 2 before heading to Los Angeles. The Warriors won their first two playoff home games (Games 3 and 4 in the first round against the Kings) but have now lost their last two (Game 6 in Round 1 vs. Kings; Game 1 in Round 2 vs. Lakers).

LAST TIME OUT
Stephen Curry's sixth 3-pointer capped a 14-0 Warriors run to tie the game at 112 with 1:37 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, the Warriors were held scoreless for the remainder of the game as the Lakers defeated the Dubs 117-112 at Chase Center on Tuesday. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole became the first trio in NBA playoff history to each have six made 3-pointers, and Poole’s six were a playoff career-high. The Warriors tied their most 3-point attempts in a playoff game in franchise history (53) and made 21 of them, outscoring the Lakers by 45 points from behind the arc. » Full Game Recap

PREVIOUS GAME STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney
LAL: D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt and Anthony Davis

INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: Patrick Baldwin Jr. (left toe; soreness), Andre Iguodala (left wrist surgery) and Ryan Rollins (right foot surgery) are out. Team Notes
LAL: Mo Bamba (left ankle soreness) is out. Team Notes

LOONEY SETS CAREER-HIGH FOR REBOUNDS
Kevon Looney set a career-high by grabbing 23 rebounds on Tuesday. It was Looney's fourth 20-rebound game this postseason and beat out his previous high 22 rebounds, which he tied in Game 5 of the prior series against Sacramento. Looney is the first player with four 20-rebound games in a postseason run since Dwight Howard (2009), and he’s done it in eight games. Looney’s four 20-plus rebound games are also the most by a Warrior in a postseason run since Nate Thurmond had 13 such games in 1967. Looney is averaging a 2023 playoff-best 16.1 rebounds per contest.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS SCOUTING REPORT
Anthony Davis led the way for the Lakers with a historic performance in Game 1. Davis became the second player in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in a playoff game (Tim Duncan was the other). Davis is one of five Lakers to have a 30-point, 20-rebound performance, joining Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal — and is the first to do so since 2004.

"I mean, the Lakers franchise over the years, over the course of their existence, has always had dominant big men, dominant guys that have been a force at the rim. That's why their jerseys are in the rafters. A.D. will be up there when he's done playing. The No. 3 will be up in the rafters," LeBron James said following Game 1. "He continues to show why he's one of the best players that we have in this league. For us, it's a treat for us to be able to have such a dynamic player that cannot only go out and get you 30 and 20, but also command the paint defensively, can switch out the guards, also get you five assists as well."

The Lakers struggled from behind the arc, shooting 6-for-25 from three, but overcame that with a 54-28 advantage in the paint and a 25-5 margin from the free throw line. As a result, the Lakers took homecourt advantage in Game 1 and can either go back to Los Angeles up 2-0 or tied 1-1, depending on Game 2's outcome.