Warriors level series with Game 2 rout

SAN FRANCISCO — After yet another big basket, Klay Thompson scurried toward the fans sitting courtside opposite the Warriors bench and raised his arms in the air to fire up an entire arena behind him. It didn’t take much the way his shots were falling.

He has been waiting his entire life to shine against his father’s Los Angeles Lakers on the big stage.

Thompson scored 30 points with eight 3-pointers, Golden State limited Anthony Davis while allowing LeBron James 23 points, and the defending champion Warriors evened their Western Conference semifinal with the Los Angeles Lakers at one game apiece with a 127-100 win Thursday night (Friday, Manila time).

“I was just trying to get the crowd going,” Thompson said. “It’s always fun when you shoot the ball well, it’s even better when you couple that win a win.”

Stephen Curry added 20 points and 12 assists as Splash Brother Thompson got hot to help Golden State make 21 more

3-pointers — giving the Warriors an NBA record for most in the first two games of a playoff series at 42. James’ Cavaliers hit 40 against Atlanta in the 2016 second round.

“They made their adjustments. We knew they were going to do that, that’s what a championship team does,” James said. “They held serve on their home court tonight.”

Coach Steve Kerr switched things up and inserted JaMychal Green into the starting lineup for Kevon Looney, who had a career-high 23 rebounds in Game 1 but has been dealing with an illness. Kerr aimed to give a different look with scoring options

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

Too tough to call.

Steph Curry and his gang are the defending champs so perhaps basketball fans can give them the courtesy.

But Golden State is just seeded sixth and their semifinal opponents - Los Angeles - are ranked seventh which just about even up things.

Now that the Warriors have evened up the series at 1 apiece, taking Game 2 with a blow out win 127-100 Friday, Game 3 in LA should somehow logically tilt slightly in favor of James and friends.

Homecourt edge is usually the reason.

Los Angelenos hate getting embarassed in their home court and the Lakers know their responsibility.

The Splash Brothers (Curry and Thompson) play unrelentlessly. This mindset is the basic foundation of the Warriors’ offense. Get Thompson or Curry out of the GS line up and you will see how they will collapse.

Meaning, without the other, Steph or Klay will carry the burden singularly on his shoulder.

Together, they are the most dangerous one-two punch of coach Steve Kerr.

Thompson, the son of ex-Laker power forward/center Mychal Thompson, poured in 30 pts while Curry produced 20 and 12 and more free-throw chances by going hard with a physical presence against Davis in the paint — where Golden State got thoroughly outplayed in a 117-112 loss in the opener.

Thompson’s basket with 7:48 left in the third gave Golden State its biggest lead at 82-64 and the Warriors rolled from there.

“Klay got it going and our defense was kind of fueling our offense,” Kerr said.

JaMychal Green impact

The Warriors had more fastbreak points and points in the paint. Green matched his playoff career high with 15 points, while Draymond Green contrib-

WARRIORS OR LAKERS?

assists in Game 2.

Argumentatively, Laker chief strategist Darvin Ham only need to copy what he did in Game 1 in order for the Lakers to go 2-1 Sunday.

Meaning, Ham must evolve a leech-like defensive strat specifically for each of Curry and Thompson.

Curry carries the ball and creates the situation. Klay usually posts himself at the corner and waits for the assist pass for an open three.

The Laker guard who chases Curry should only have his eyes glued on Steph, otherwise this smart fellow can use a pick to receive the pass and shoot either a two or issue another swift assist to the open sniper.

Observed that Curry carried the brunt and burden in Game 2.

Meaning, Lebron must also take up the cudgels and, like Curry, lead his team to victory in these two home assignments.

Despite the Game 2 defeat, the Lakers maintain an intangible momentum that needs to be concretely translated come jumpball time.

If the Lakers allow the Warriors to snatch a win in either Game 3 or 4, Steve Kerr can ably boost the morale of his boys in the fifth encounter in San Francisco.

Frankly, the Lebron-led Lak- uted 11 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists after insisting he had to get more aggressive.

“I’ve been waiting on this moment, just wanted to show that I could help,” JaMychal Green said. “They always tell me to stay ready, my time will come.” ers today are not the same hard core Lakers squad Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar led during the famous Showtime era.

The best-of-seven series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Saturday.

James shot 6 for 8 in the first with a pair of 3s for 14 points as the Lakers led 33-26. He retrieved a loose ball and let it fly for a pretty 3 with 7:47 before halftime but the Warriors were too much.

They are a different breed now.

GM Rob Pelinka continues to shuffle the LA line up like a new deck of cards, hoping to produce a “Royal Straight Flush” finally.

The Lakers hope to come out a with 3-1 card while the Warriors could welcome a 2-2 even slate going to Game 5 where the latter will host the former. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!