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NBA: Lakers grab 2-1 series lead after routing Warriors

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (R) talks aloud before a Warriors free-throw as Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (L) listens in during the second quarter of Game 2 in the NBA Western Conference semifinals at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, USA, May 4, 2023. John G. Mabanglo, EPA-EFE." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/05/07/050723_nba_gsw-x-lal_epa.jpg"/><figcaption>Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (R) talks aloud before a Warriors free-throw as Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (L) listens in during the second quarter of Game 2 in the NBA Western Conference semifinals at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, USA, May 4, 2023. John G. Mabanglo, EPA-EFE.</figcaption></figure></div>LOS ANGELES (UPDATED) -- Anthony Davis and LeBron James powered the Los Angeles Lakers in a rout of defending champion Golden State on Saturday.Davis scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while LeBron James added 21 points to lead the host Lakers over the Warriors 127-97.Davis made 7-of-10 shots from the floor, 11-of-12 from the free throw line, and had four blocks, three assists and three steals while overwhelming with defensive plays.&quot;I just wanted to come out and get back to the dominant performance that I do defensively,&quot; Davis said.&quot;We wanted to get back to our roots, and defending and guarding. This is a tough team to guard but we know that we can do it and we did it well tonight, holding them to 97 points.&quot;HIGHLIGHTS:<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HzFcoNjT9MI?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>James, who went the first 13 minutes without shooting, added eight assists and eight rebounds while D&#x27;Angelo Russell posted 21 points, all in the first half.The Lakers grabbed a 2-1 lead over the defending champion Warriors in their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series with game four on Monday in Los Angeles.&quot;It&#x27;s a battle,&quot; Davis said of the series. &quot;Two teams that want it and can score and can give each other a beat down any given night.&quot;We know they&#x27;re going to come out with a lot of firepower Monday trying not to go down 3-1. We&#x27;ve got to have the mindset we had tonight.&quot;An 18-4 run to end the first quarter gave the Warriors a 30-23 lead, with James not taking a shot in the first period of a playoff game for the first time in his career.&quot;It&#x27;s just a case of allowing the game to come to him, letting a natural rhythm happen and not forcing things,&quot; Lakers coach Darvin Ham said.After falling behind 40-29, the Lakers answered with a 30-8 run in the final 7:22 of the second quarter for a 59-48 halftime lead.&quot;As a group, we wasn&#x27;t shooting the ball well. We locked up defensively and got easy ones,&quot; D&#x27;Angelo Russell said.The Lakers, who stretched the lead as large as 20 points in the third quarter, entered the fourth ahead 86-68 and cruised from there.Ham praised Davis for his defending.&quot;He sets a tone for us defensively,&quot; Ham said. &quot;He&#x27;s the catalyst. He&#x27;s the anchor. His activity, when he is changing shots, blocking shots, it&#x27;s amazing. He&#x27;s locked in.&quot;Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 23 points while Andrew Wiggins added 16 and Klay Thompson had 15.<div>© Agence France-Presse</div>

Anthony Davis scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while LeBron James added 21 points to power the Los Angeles Lakers over Golden State 127-97.