LeBron James didn’t take a shot in the first quarter of Game 3 for the first time in his NBA-record 275 playoff appearances, and the Los Angeles Lakers’ home crowd rumbled with uncertainty each time he passed the ball instead.
But James and his Lakers were just taking a while to warm up before they steamrolled the Golden State Warriors. Anthony Davis had 25 points and 13 rebounds, a slow-starting James finished with 21 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, and the Lakers took a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series with a 127-97 victory on Saturday night.
D’Angelo Russell hit five three-pointers while scoring 21 points for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who remained unbeaten at home in the postseason with a strong defensive effort against the reigning NBA champions.
Los Angeles seized control in the middle quarters, outscoring the Warriors 63-38 to turn Game 3 into a non-contest. “We’re one of the best defensive teams in the league, if not the best,” James said. “For us to reach our potential, we have to defend at a high level.