Anthony Davis, LeBron James available for Game 6

By HoopsHype | May 12, 2023

What’s the buzz on Twitter? Jorge Sierra @hoopshypeDon’t have a horse in the race, but glad we were spared of “Is Curry better than LeBron?” debates for the time being.Good night. – 2:15 AM Jorge Sierra @hoopshypeKlay Thompson no longer has the best record in NBA playoffs history (minimum: 100 games) after losing to the Lakers.At No. 1 now, it’s @harper04_5 (of Bulls and Lakers fame) with 68.75 percent of his playoff games won.(Michael Jordan is at No. 14. LeBron at 19). – 2:11 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterD’Angelo Russell said that, from the moment he and the other new Lakers arrived at the deadline, LeBron and AD as a duo essentially led the way, set the tone in terms of how to play around them, allowing the rest of the roster to follow. – 1:34 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterThe Warriors had been 19-0 in West playoff series since 2015 before the Lakers managed to defeat them tonight.Meanwhile, LeBron and AD are now 26-11 in the postseason as a duo. They’re 6-1 in playoff series, with the one loss coming to PHX in 2021 after AD got hurt. – 1:29 AM Bobby Manning @RealBobManningI was always intrigued by these #Lakers if Bron, AD were right & the Russ thing was such an obvious hindrance, myself & others were screaming for a deal. Any deal. It’s still startling how good of a trade they got by waiting. Also, AD & LBJ did this all through pain. What a shift – 1:20 AM Nick Wright @getnickwrightLeBron James:Ended the Pistons.Ended the Celtics.Ended Big 3 in OKC.Ended the pre-KD Warriors.Ended the post-KD Warriors.That’s 5 iterations of championship level teams over a SIXTEEN YEAR stretch just wrecked by one man. – 1:10 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterDarvin Ham on LeBron, who went for 30 points (10 of 14 FG’s), 9 boards, 9 assists (2 TO’s), 2 steals and 1 block in 43 minutes in Year 20:“Fingerprints all over the game.” – 1:03 AM Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavsRemember when Anthony Davis fouled Maxi Kleber on a 3ptr with 6.7 left. And then fell asleep on Maxi’s GW 3ptr at the horn? Hard to believe that happened only eight weeks ago tonight. – 1:02 AM Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannixLakers benefitted from the extra rest after finishing off Memphis in six in the last round. With the conference finals set to start on Tuesday, LeBron and AD get a few days off before Denver. – 12:58 AM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBAThis was an incredible effort by LeBron and AD to get to this point when they both were playing with injuries that looked like they might need surgery. – 12:56 AM Mark Followill @MFollowillLeBron isn’t waiting for your tweets about the schedule, he’s announcing the West Finals start Tuesday during the postgame interview. – 12:51 AM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaGame 6: Lakers 122, Warriors 101The Lakers win the series 4-2 to advance to the Western Conference finals for the 42nd time in franchise history. LeBron James wins his 41st series — the most in NBA history. James has 30/9/9. AD had 17 and 20.Up next: Game 1 in Denver on Tues. – 12:47 AM Mark Medina @MarkG_MedinaLakers finished with a 122-101 Game 6 win over the Warriors. Lakers & Nuggets to meet in the Western Conference Finals beginning Tuesday for the second time in four seasons. LeBron James giving deep hugs to Draymond Green and Stephen Curry afterwards – 12:46 AM Brad Turner @BA_TurnerLeBron James had 30 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists to give the Lakers a 122-101 win over the defending NBA champion Warriors and to send LA to Western Conference finals to meet the Nuggets Tuesday in Denver. Lakers won series 4-2 – 12:45 AM Jorge Sierra @hoopshypeLeBron James ties Wilt Chamberlain and John Havlicek at No. 2 for most Conference Finals made in league history.Average number of NBA teams during their careersWilt: 12.08Havlicek: 13.25LeBron: 30Just for context. – 12:43 AM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBSRemember when LeBron was “only making the Finals every year because the East sucked?”Well, he’s now 5-1 in the Western Conference playoffs and the only series he lost came with an injured Anthony Davis. – 12:41 AM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBSAnthony Davis was just the best player in a series that included Stephen Curry and LeBron James.There’s no real way to quantify that, but that’s a “first paragraph on the Hall of Fame” plaque-caliber accomplishment. The only other person who can even argue it is Kevin Durant. – 12:40 AM Marc Stein @TheSteinLineLeBron James, Anthony Davis and these Lakers will be the first Western Conference team to beat the Steve Kerr-coached Warriors in a best-of-7 series.Ever.Golden State falling to 19-1 against the West with Kerr coaching. L.A. to West finals.More NBA: marcstein.substack.com – 12:40 AM Vivek Jacob @vivekmjacobKlay looking a shadow of himself, Draymond’s contract status and his lack of individual offence becoming a bigger factor, very much feels like the end of an era for that Big 3 alongside Steph.Fitting that LeBron’s team does it (if this is indeed the end). – 12:40 AM Nick Wright @getnickwrightSteph, Klay & Draymond are 23-2 in playoff series when they’re all healthy… both losses are to LeBron James.Steph, Klay & Draymond were 19-0 in the Western Conference playoffs… until they played LeBron James in the West. – 12:36 AM Jorge Sierra @hoopshypeMOST PLAYOFF SERIES WON IN NBA HISTORYLeBron James: 41 👑Derek Fisher: 40Robert Horry: 39Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 37Tim Duncan: 35Kobe Bryant: 33Scottie Pippen: 33 – 12:35 AM Tony Jones @TjonesonthenbaThe Wiggins injury was an absolute killer. He’s by far the singular best Lebron James defender in the league. With him being compromised tonight, Lebron was at an all he can eat buffet – 12:33 AM Bill Simmons @BillSimmonsPhenomenal LeBron performance. 41 of 42 mins so far. Great Reaves game too. And just a brutal end to the 9-year Warriors run. Couldn’t have gone worse. – 12:32 AM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBSLeBron James has scored 30 points for the first time in the 2023 postseason, and he does it in the Lakers’ biggest game yet. – 12:27 AM Ben Golliver @BenGolliverLeBron James has his first 30-point playoff game since Game 5 of the 2020 NBA Finals, as the Lakers close in on dethroning the defending champion Warriors. – 12:27 AM Tommy Beer @TommyBeerlol LeBron gonna finish with a 30-point triple-double in his 20th season in an elimination game to knock out the defending champsAppreciate greatness – 12:25 AM Tony Jones @TjonesonthenbaLebron having a singular (read the tweet yall) “best player in the world” game tonight….took this game by the throat from the very first possession – 12:25 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterPlaying unprecedented minutes and role in his 20th NBA season, LeBron has limited his paint attacks to an extent earlier on in these two playoff rounds.None of that tonight.He’s 8 of 9 in the paint against the Warriors thus far. – 12:19 AM Nick Wright @getnickwrightMark Jackson just casually saying LeBron has to play all 12 in the 4th, which would mean 47 minutes in Year 20, is really a perfect encapsulation of what we’ve all come to expect from the greatest player to ever live. – 12:18 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterLeBron got hit in the head on an and-1, but he’s fine.He’ll get a FT after a review, with a possible upgrade coming if it’s deemed a flagrant foul.LAL up 95-80, with LeBron reaching 27 points on 10 of 14 FG’s. – 12:18 AM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaThird quarter: Lakers 91, Warriors 77This has been LeBron James’ best offensive performance of the playoffs through three quarters: 25 points on 9-for-13 shooting. He’s added 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Anthony Davis has 15 points and 17 rebounds. Austin Reaves has 18 points. – 12:11 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterLeBron in Game 6 tonight through 3 Q’s: 25 points on 9 of 13 FG’s, 7 rebounds, 7 assists in 34 minutes.LAL lead 91-77.LeBron in Game 6 against Memphis: 22 points on 9 of 13 FG’s, 6 assists, 5 rebounds in 31 minutes (rested in 4th Q).LAL led 100-67. – 12:09 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterWith his 7th board tonight, LeBron passed Shaq for 4th on the NBA’s all-time postseason rebounds list:3. Tim Duncan – 2,8594. LeBron James – 2,5095. Shaquille O’Neal – 2,508LeBron’s also 1st in scoring, 1st in steals, and 2nd in assists (Magic). – 12:04 AM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBAAbsolutely amazing that we have this farce of SG Moses Moody trying to guard LeBron in a desperation situation with Wiggins and Klay out. What a fail that they couldn’t get 1 meaningful minute out of Kuminga in this series. – 12:04 AM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLAWith his seventh rebound of the night, LeBron James passed Shaquille O’Neal for fourth place on the NBA’s all-time postseason rebounds list.3. Tim Duncan – 2,8594. LeBron James – 2,5095. Shaquille O’Neal – 2,508Via Lakers PR – 12:01 AM Dave McMenamin @mctenAnthony Davis scores a dunk on a lob, then steals the inbounds and is fouled by Draymond Green. In the moments that followed, Green pushed the ball into Dennis Schroder’s forehead and the two were both called for a tech. It was Schroder’s second of the game, so he’s gone. – 11:55 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterA costly interchange for the Lakers, as Dennis Schröder, the key man in LAL’s smaller starting lineup tonight, who’s been guarding Steph Curry, is ejected as he and Draymond Green get matching technicals.Still 6:20 to play in the 3rd Q.LAL lead 76-58 after 2 AD free throws. – 11:54 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterLAL have matched their biggest lead of the game, at 70-53, with a 14-7 start to the 3rd Q capped by B2B transition layups from LeBron James, who has 22 points on 7 of 10 FG’s. – 11:50 PM Sam Vecenie @Sam_VecenieLakers completely locked in on defense. Also just really hate the Warriors playing these GP2/Draymond/reduced-version-of-Wiggins lineups. Lakers just don’t care at all if any of those three are outside of the paint. So the Dubs have to get predictable with AD on-ball actions – 11:49 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBALeBron has contested 3 Draymond layups, with a huge block and 2 airmailed finishes. Steph and Draymond missed layups lead to back to back layups for LeBron and a 17 point Laker lead. – 11:47 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterAnthony Davis was +19 in his 19 minutes, as he continues to dominate defensively (12 rebounds, the block that led to the Reaves 3). He added 9 points on 3 of 6 FG’s and 3 of 4 FT’s. – 11:36 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBAAfter that start, LeBron basically chilled on offense the whole next 18 mins. Should have plenty in the tank to close if needed. – 11:32 PM Nick Wright @getnickwrightLeBron James, on a bad foot, in Year 20, 65,000+ minutes in, just played 23 minutes in the first half, the most of any player, while leading both teams in scoring, seemingly without ever going full speed. – 11:31 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenAustin Reaves’ halfcourt heave beats the halftime buzzer to put LAL up 56-46 at the break. The Lakers are 6-for-11 from 3; the Warriors are 5-for-23 from deep. LeBron leads all scorers with 15p; Reaves 13p; AD 9p 12r. GSW: Steph 12p; DiVincenzo 10p; Klay 8p on 3-for-13. – 11:27 PM Kerith Burke @KerithBurkeWith 13 points at halftime, Reaves has outscored each Warriors starter. Every Warriors player, in fact. Steph has 12. DDV has 10. Lebron leads all with 15. – 11:25 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterAustin Reaves beat the first half buzzer from about 54 feet, a triple to put the Lakers up 56-46.He had 13 points, 2 shy of LeBron’s 15, plus 3 assists and 3 boards as his breakout first postseason continues. – 11:24 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaHalftime: Lakers 56, Warriors 46Austin Reaves’ halfcourt buzzer-beater is good. The Lakers enter intermission with a much-needed boost. LeBron James leads them with 15 points. Reaves has 13 points. AD has 9 points, 12 rebounds and 1 block. LA was minus-9 in the 5 min he sat. – 11:24 PM Anthony Slater @anthonyVslaterSeismic swing to close the half. Klay Thompson misses a wing 3 that would’ve cut Lakers lead to four, Anthony Davis blocks DiVincenzo putback and Austin Reaves cans a halfcourter at the buzzer. Lakers up 10. – 11:24 PM Eric Walden @tribjazzIt really is incredible how often the Lakers forget Anthony Davis is also capable of playing offense. If half the shots D-Lo took went to AD instead … – 11:23 PM Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkinsAD is the Best Defensive Player in the league. When he’s locked in it’s not a Single player that’s on his level defensively! Carry the hell on… – 11:21 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterLAL pushed their lead back to 10 behind the 2nd LeBron 3, and 5 points from Austin Reaves, both after he drew fouls from Curry (an and-1, then 2 FT’s). – 11:11 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBAHam shaking his head, not sure whether it’s at the call or LeBron’s request to challenge. But probably not worth it at this point with only 8 to shoot for Golden State. – 11:10 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBAGetting AD switched onto Klay is the result the Warriors want–because they can then run their offense with AD stuck on a guy you need to guard. But Klay holds the ball and nobody moves to give him an outlet. – 11:04 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaFirst quarter: Lakers 31, Warriors 26After leading by as many as 17 points in the opening frame, LA was outscored 16-4 over the final 3:24 of the quarter. Anthony Davis has 9 points and 10 rebounds. LeBron James has 9 points. LA is shooting 52.6%. – 10:52 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenThe Lakers’ once 17-point lead was cut to five, 31-26, after the 1st Q. AD 9p 10r; LeBron 9p. For GSW: Curry 12p – 10:50 PM Brad Turner @BA_TurnerLakers 17 point lead down to 31-26 over Warriors end of first. Steph Curry starting to cook with 12 points. AD has 9 points, 10 rebounds for Lakers. – 10:50 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterA few unforced errors – LeBron lost a live dribble, and Schröder went over the back on the wrong end of the court to give Curry two bonus FT’s – have helped GSW to an 11-2 run to trim LAL’s lead to 5.They were up 17 early. – 10:49 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalkBefore the playoffs we questioned if Anthony Davis’ and LeBron’s legs would hold up playing heavy minutes every other day. We should have asked if Klay Thompson’s would hold up (1-8, he’s been cold the second half of the series). – 10:44 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBAI doubt it matters if things continue like this, but Lakers have gotten away from attacking with 3 straight jumpers. LeBron had Steph and Klay in the post and settled for fadeaways. – 10:42 PM Tim Bontemps @TimBontempsDream start for the Lakers. AD looks great, shots falling everywhere and Warriors can’t buy one. Only trouble spot is GSW has been all over the offensive glass. But if they aren’t hitting any shots, anyway, only so much damage that can do. – 10:39 PM Anthony Slater @anthonyVslaterLeBron James predictably going at Andrew Wiggins early. Back cut for an alley oop on first possession and then two power post ups right into his chest for a make and then a foul. – 10:23 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterDirect, aggressive early attacks from LeBron and AD, plus strong defense, produced a 9-2 lead. LeBron has 6, Davis 2, plus a D-Lo free throw.Warriors are 1 for 5. – 10:23 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterUltimately, LeBron’s go-to in his 20 years has been getting to, and finishing at, the rim.He got right to it to start Game 6, with a pair of buckets inside to get LAL going. – 10:21 PM Shams Charania @ShamsCharaniaLakers moved Dennis Schroder into the starting five tonight vs. Warriors in place of Jarred Vanderbilt. Schroder joins D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Anthony Davis as starters. – 9:31 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaThe Lakers are starting Dennis Schroder in place of Jarred Vanderbilt for Game 6.Darvin Ham has hinted at a lineup change over the past two days.Lakers’ starters:Dennis SchroderD’Angelo RussellAustin ReavesLeBron JamesAnthony Davis – 9:31 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLALakers says Anthony Davis (right foot stress injury) and LeBron James (right foot soreness) have been upgraded to AVAILABLE for tonight’s game vs. Golden State.Mo Bamba (left ankle soreness) has been downgraded to OUT. – 9:14 PM Brad Turner @BA_TurnerAnthony Davis (right foot stress injury) and LeBron James (right foot soreness) have been upgraded to AVAILABLE for tonight’s game vs. Golden State. – 9:13 PM Tommy Beer @TommyBeerGreatest players of all time ranked:1. LeBron2. MJ3. Brunson in the playoffs in Grinches4. Kareem – 8:40 PM Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlinSteve Kerr said Andrew Wiggins suffered the injury while getting tangled up with LeBron James in Game 5. He will go through pregame warmups and then it will be determined whether he can play in Game 6. – 8:37 PM Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpearsWarriors coach Steve Kerr said Andrew Wiggins got injured while fighting for a rebound with Lakers forward LeBron James with about five minutes left in Game 5. Kerr said hopefully Wiggins will play tonight. – 8:36 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterSteve Kerr said the Andrew Wiggins rib issue occurred with about five minutes left in the game when he got tangled up with LeBron. Got more sore after the game. He said Wiggins would warm up, and from there, they’d collectively decide if he’ll be able to play. – 8:33 PM CJ Holmes @CjHolmes22Steve Kerr confirmed that Andrew Wiggins suffered his injury late in Game 5 after getting tangled up with LeBron James. His status for Game 6 remains unclear. – 8:32 PM Brad Turner @BA_Turner“Progressing fine. Should be available,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said about Anthony Davis playing tonight in Game 6 vs Warriors – 8:27 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterAnthony Davis “should be available,” via Darvin Ham.He’ll be ready to play as much as Ham needs tonight, with the Lakers likely to treat this game like a Game 7, as they did vs. Memphis in Game 6 in Round 1 as the lower seed. – 8:23 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenDarvin Ham says Anthony Davis is “progressing fine” and “should be available,” as expected. – 8:19 PM Dave McMenamin @mctenThe Warriors’ Gary Payton II comes on the court pregame ahead of Game 6, passes by Anthony Davis getting up shots already and jokes to AD: “C‘mon, just take the night off, bro” – 7:46 PM Kane Pitman @KanePitmanBack on deck in the US for WCF and Finals coverage for ESPN across Aus and NZ. Gonna get warmed up (and keep trying to wake up) with Game 6 Lakers-Warriors tonight. Last NBA game in person was in March 2020. Feels like a bit has changed but LeBron and Steph are still dominant… – 5:01 PM Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothersFor the sickos who like to watch, Friday’s @lockedonlakers pod, on YouTube! We talk tonight’s Game 6, and all eyes on Anthony Davis, who has an opportunity to give Shaq, Chuck, Stephen A, etc. two middle fingers. @LockedOnLakers @LockedOnNetworkyoutu.be/vecscrv7vls?t=2 – 4:17 PM Todd Whitehead @CrumpledJumperIt’s a turf war in this Lakers-Warriors series. Anthony Davis wants to live in the paint on D and the Warriors need to pull him away from the hoop as much as possible. In Game 3, AD got his way, but the Warriors started to spread him out a bit in Games 4 and 5. pic.twitter.com/TvGvLJ63mA – 12:02 PM StatMuse @statmusePlayers with 200+ PTS, 70+ REB and 60+ AST in a single playoff series in the last 50 seasons:– Nikola Jokic (2023 Conf Semis)– LeBron James (2016 Finals)Jokic had 207/79/62,LeBron had 208/79/62. pic.twitter.com/Qy0hueER44 – 10:22 AM Michael Pina @MichaelVPinathe lakers allowed 1.3 points per direct play (which is atrocious) when AD was involved with a steph ball screen in game 5.on some ways LA can clean that up, and a few other adjustments darvin ham may want to consider before tonight’s pivotal game 6: theringer.com/nba/2023/5/12/… – 10:11 AM Michael Pina @MichaelVPina2-man lineup net ratings in the playoffs so far…murray-jokic: +11.8curry-klay: +10.7brown-tatum: +4.1lebron-davis: +3.2durant-booker: -0.2 – 9:58 AM Justin Kubatko @jkubatkoNikola Jokic in the conference semifinals:✅ 34.5 PPG✅ 13.2 RPG✅ 10.3 APGJokic is just the third player in NBA history to average a 30-point triple-double in a playoff series, joining Russell Westbrook (2017 EC1) and LeBron James (2017 FIN).More: open.substack.com/pub/statitudes… – 9:11 AM Justin Kubatko @jkubatkoNikola Jokic last night:✅ 32 PTS✅ 10 REB✅ 12 ASTJokic became the third player in NBA history to be the outright leader in all three categories in back-to-back playoff games, joining LeBron James (twice) and Russell Westbrook.Read and subscribe: open.substack.com/pub/statitudes… – 8:42 AM Jorge Sierra @hoopshypeBest career playoff PERShaquille O’Neal: 26.13Anthony Davis: 26.73LeBron James: 27.95George Mikan: 28.51Michael Jordan: 28.60NIKOLA JOKIC: 29.03 🤯 – 8:23 AM More on this storyline