Draymond Green took charge in Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers, determined to set the tone for his team after being told that his presence had not been felt so far in the series. Green’s aggressive play on both ends of the court, with his verbal leadership and physicality, helped drive the Warriors to a 121-106 win, keeping their season alive.
A Much-Needed Offensive Boost
Green’s assertiveness on offense allowed Stephen Curry to take some of the burden off his shoulders, as the Lakers had been focusing their defense on Curry and Klay Thompson. Green finished with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 10 rebounds, marking his second 20-point game this postseason. Golden State is 43-10 in the regular season and playoffs when Green scores at least 20 points. Andrew Wiggins also contributed with 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting, allowing the Warriors to finally have success finishing drives against the Lakers.
Defensive Prowess
Green’s defensive play was just as crucial as his offensive performance, as he held the Lakers to 6-of-15 shooting when contesting shots and held Anthony Davis to 3-of-8 shooting as his primary defender. Andrew Wiggins also played a key role defensively, guarding LeBron James and managing to poke the ball away from him at one point in the game.
Warriors’ Confidence for Game 6
With the win in Game 5, the Warriors improved to 8-2 when facing elimination under coach Steve Kerr, including 7-0 against Western Conference opponents. Despite this, Green and the Warriors know that they still have work to do and must approach Game 6 with the same mindset they had in Game 5. They face a tough challenge in the Lakers, who will not go down without a fight, but the Warriors are confident that they can overcome a 3-1 series deficit for the second time in franchise history.
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