SAN FRANCISCO — Anthony Davis sat subsequent to LeBron James, watching as James heaped reward upon him.
“The Lakers franchise through the years, over the course of their existence, has all the time had dominant huge males, dominant guys which were a pressure on the rim,” James mentioned, after a dominant efficiency by Davis within the Lakers’ Sport 1 win within the Western Convention semifinal sequence towards the Golden State Warriors. “That’s why their jerseys are within the rafters. A.D. shall be up there when he’s performed enjoying.”
James went on for an additional minute in the identical vein. As soon as he completed, Davis patted him on the again.
“I’ll take my watch subsequent week,” James mentioned, smiling at his joke a couple of quid professional quo. “Or a automotive.”
This sequence is one which has stirred nostalgia for the years when James and Warriors guard Stephen Curry used to face off each June for the N.B.A. championship. But it surely might hinge on Davis, who has the potential to be the most effective participant within the sequence. On Tuesday night time, Davis confirmed simply what his dominance can imply to the Lakers, as he pushed them to a 117-112 win on the street over the defending-champion Warriors, wresting away home-court benefit.
Curry completed with 27 factors, six rebounds and three assists whereas two different Golden State guards, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole, additionally eclipsed 20 factors.
Davis completed the sport with 30 factors and 23 rebounds, additionally blocking 4 pictures. With at the least 30 factors and 20 rebounds, Davis joined elite firm in Lakers playoff historical past: Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal. Essentially the most drastic statistical distinction between the groups was a direct results of Davis’s play: The Lakers outscored the Warriors contained in the paint by 54-28.
“He’s all the pieces for us,” Lakers guard Dennis Schroder mentioned. “Defensively, offensively, huge half for this group. I imply, wasn’t an all-star, wasn’t the defensive participant of the 12 months. He’s taking it severe, doing all the pieces for us, and he’s the anchor.”
That James and Curry had been the narrative heart of this sequence made sense. They’re two of the most effective to have ever performed within the N.B.A., and every has gained 4 championships. They performed towards one another within the finals yearly from 2015 to 2018, and every has gained a championship since then as effectively — James in 2020 and Curry final season.
That is the primary time since 2018 that the 2 have confronted one another within the playoffs, and there have been loads of moments Tuesday night time once they commanded the stage.
Earlier than the sport, the 2 shared amusing on the scorer’s desk. Halfway by means of the second quarter, whereas Davis was taking pictures free throws, James wandered down the sideline with Curry, who was heading to the Golden State bench. James stayed by Curry’s aspect till he sat down, and even then continued speaking to him.
“He was simply joking round about having to protect me all the best way until I received to the bench,” Curry mentioned.
However at halftime, James was with Davis. The 2 of them walked off the courtroom collectively, shoulder to shoulder, stride for stride.
The scene was harking back to their first season collectively, the 2019-20 championship season, when Davis and James hardly went wherever with out one another and waited for one another to complete their on-court interviews after each recreation.
The Lakers gave up rather a lot to accumulate Davis the summer time earlier than that season, together with gamers who would turn into vital items for different franchises, and Davis appeared to reward them instantly. He was named first-team All-N.B.A. that 12 months, in addition to the All-Defensive first group. He was a candidate for defensive participant of the 12 months. He match completely on James’s group.
A part of what made that partnership work so seamlessly was the best way their personalities meshed. Davis by no means wanted to be the focal point. James didn’t thoughts it, even thrived in it.
“We’re not jealous of one another,” James mentioned throughout the 2020 N.B.A. finals.
That dynamic got here into play on Tuesday night time when James and Curry had been the focal point.
Davis won’t search consideration, however on the courtroom he requires it, particularly when he performs the best way he did in Sport 1.
“We all know that’s what he’s able to,” Lakers Coach Darvin Ham mentioned. “It’s nice. We wanted each little bit of all these factors and rebounds and blocked pictures, assists as effectively.”
Although Davis excelled at defending contained in the paint, he made his presence felt everywhere in the courtroom. Late within the recreation, he thwarted the Warriors shortly after Curry tied the sport with a heart-stopping 3-pointer with 1:38 remaining that capped a 14-0 run.
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell scored, getting the lead again for the Lakers. Moments later Curry tried once more, this time driving towards the basket, solely to have his shot blocked by Davis. With 39.3 seconds left, and the Lakers up by 3, Davis grabbed a rebound off a miss by Poole.
Davis was aggressive offensively as effectively and appeared tireless regardless of enjoying 43 minutes and 50 seconds, greater than some other participant. He performed the whole second half.
Ham credited the load administration through which the Lakers had engaged earlier within the 12 months for having the ability to play Davis huge minutes within the playoffs.
Davis’s critics have questioned his sturdiness and his consistency, and never with out purpose. He has missed video games due to damage in yearly of his profession and performed in solely 56 video games this season.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” he mentioned. “I don’t care what nobody thinks. Solely the fellows within the locker room, teaching employees, solely opinions that I care about. Aside from that, I simply exit and play basketball, do what I can do to assist the group win.”
Davis and James had been two of the final remaining gamers on the courtroom Tuesday night time, Davis doing a postgame interview with TNT and James talking with the Lakers’ native regional broadcast channel. Davis briefly interrupted James’s interview to do a customized handshake earlier than leaving the courtroom.
“It’s going to be a special recreation,” Davis mentioned, when requested about Sport 2 on Thursday. “They’re going to make changes; we’re going to make changes.” He added: “I’m going to proceed to be aggressive.”