Golden State Falls to Lakers in Game 6, Ending Championship Hopes
LOS ANGELES — The reigning champion Golden State’s freewheeling, 3-point-centric style of play changed the N.B.A. and made Stephen Curry a household name. But on Friday night, the team couldn’t muster up one last overwhelming flurry of deep shots, bowing out to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the Western Conference semifinals.
The Lakers won Game 6, 122-101.
It was one of the most highly anticipated playoff matchups in years, pitting Curry against the Lakers star LeBron James for the first time since the 2018 N.B.A. finals, when James was on the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the series ultimately didn’t match the hype, with blowouts in Games 2, 3 and 5 after a thrilling Lakers win to open the series.
In Game 6, Golden State seemed out of sorts right from the start. The Lakers opened the game on a 24-9 run. Golden State’s Klay Thompson missed nine of his first 10 shots; Curry missed four of his first five. Then, just before halftime, a last-second desperation shot by Lakers guard Austin Reaves sent Crypto.com Arena into a frenzy and Los Angeles to the break with a 10-point lead. In the third quarter, James led the push to extend the lead to 19 and the Lakers were in firm control entering the fourth quarter. Golden State never recovered.
“You’re disappointed and kind of shell shocked that it’s over,” Curry said. “You’ve poured so much into every season, but going off last year you’re trying to defend and give ourselves the chance to keep advancing. It’s a tough way to for the season to end.”
Source: The New York Times
