Three takeaways from Thompson, Warriors demolishing Lakers in Game 2 to even series

After one quarter, the Lakers were up 7, LeBron James had 14 points while knocking down a couple of 3s (the Lakers as a team were 5-of-8 from beyond the arc), and Los Angeles dared to dream of a 2-0 series lead.

Then the Warriors happened. Over the next two quarters Golden State scored 84 points on 56.4% shooting with 14 3s, they were getting buckets at the rim too, and had 25 assists (to seven turnovers).

After three quarters the Warriors were up 30 and it was garbage time. The final was 127-100 (that’s with the Warriors not scoring in the final 4:30 of the game). The series is tied 1-1 heading to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Saturday.

Here are three takeaways from Game 2.

In Game 1, the Lakers forced their style of play on the Warriors, pounding the ball inside and scoring 54 points in the paint (26 more than Golden State). Anthony Davis feasted and the Lakers drew fouls.

The Warriors got the message and their defense showed out in Game 2.

“They did a good job of crowding the paint, preventing us from playing downhill as much, and that in turn affects what we do at the free throw line,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said postgame.

The Lakers still scored 42 points in the paint and got to the free throw line 17 times (well below the 29 in Game 1). However, an attacking Warriors offense won the battle of points in the paint by six points (the Warriors also had 33 points from beyond the arc).

Their weak side help on Anthony Davis — which was slow in Game 1, reacting like they were still playing the Kings’ shooters — was on point.

All that defense led to the Warriors pushing the pace from the opening tip. While the Lakers ran as much as the Warriors (according to Cleaning the Glass), the Warriors had a 166.7 offensive rating in