The Los Angeles Lakers secured a commanding lead in their Western Conference playoff series after a spectacular victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 4. And the star of the night was Lonnie Walker IV. The 104-101 win puts the Lakers in a strong position, with just one more victory needed to advance to the conference finals.
Although LeBron James and Anthony Davis contributed massively to the Lakers’ win, it was Lonnie Walker’s breakout performance that stole the show. He scored 15 points, all in the final quarter, to help the Lakers mount a comeback after being down.
His clutch shots proved crucial in the closing moments of the game, which earned it a coveted moniker: ‘The Lonnie Walker Game.’
Lonnie Walker Steals the Show
Lonnie’s late-game heroics helped the Lakers to a critical victory over the Golden State Warriors. Though James and Davis made significant contributions, it was Walker’s performance that pushed the team over the top.
During the game’s climax, with only two minutes remaining, he secured a vital lead for the Lakers with a mid-range jumper. He scored all of his 15 points in the fourth quarter. Walker provided the Lakers with numerous clutch plays that made the difference for the team.
James stated that the Lakers could not have won the game without Walker’s performance, saying, “As hard as this game was, it’s going to be even harder. We understand that. We know that. We don’t win this game tonight without Lonnie Walker, that’s for sure.”
For Walker, this was a dream come true: “(It’s) the greatest feeling you could ever imagine,” he said. Walker, after the game, took to Twitter and stated, “Candle stay lit.”
Curry’s Triple-Double Not Enough to Secure Win for the Warriors
Steph Curry contributed significantly to the Warriors, registering a triple-double with 31 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds. However, his performance wasn’t enough to deliver a victory for the team. Curry had two chances to give the Warriors the lead in the game’s closing moments, but both efforts missed the mark.
Meanwhile, Walker took advantage of Curry’s misses, securing the critical rebounds needed to maintain the Lakers’ lead.
In addition to Curry’s triple-double, Warriors guard Gary Payton II scored a season-high 15 points in his first start of the year. Klay Thompson had a muted performance, scoring only nine points in 41 minutes. Andrew Wiggins chipped in 17 points, but it wasn’t enough to halt the Lakers’ winning streak.
Lakers on Course for Conference Finals
James led the Lakers with a 27-point performance, registering a double-double with 10 rebounds and six assists.
Despite his shooting struggles, it was the support James received from his teammates that helped carry the team to victory. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ strong defense thwarted Curry’s shooting efforts, which made it difficult for the Warriors to regain the lead.
Davis had 23 points, including crucial points made from the free-throw line. He also had a tough defensive task of guarding Curry, which he accomplished admirably, while also contributing 15 rebounds.
With such a strong roster after the trade deadline, the Lakers are undoubtedly feeling the pressure to capitalize on their NBA championship aspirations. However, with performances like Walker’s in Game 4, they’ve shown that they have the depth and resilience needed to secure the title.
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