LOS ANGELES — It’s happened before. It happened again.
The Golden State Warriors looked to be in command of a game. Then it all unraveled.
Take Saturday night, when the Warriors appeared to be in control of Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, then lost their composure and a double-digit lead.
Golden State lost its way in a 129-97 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and now trails 2-1 in the best-of-seven playoff series.
“We got punked tonight,” Warriors guard Klay Thompson said, “unfortunately, on the boards … on the free throw line.”
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The Lakers shot 37 free throws compared to 17 for the Warriors, but Thompson didn’t gripe about the officiating. The first thing he did was mention his six turnovers, a playoff-game worst for him.
“Inexcusable,” he said.
But the mid-game breakdown, during which the Warriors squandered an 11-point lead, goes beyond Thompson’s miscues.
“It’s more just a connecting-the-game issue for us,” Warriors star Steph Curry said. “It’s always been. Like we had things rolling in the first half and as soon as the game turned in … like the middle of the second quarter, played right into their hands.”
The Warriors fired up quick and errant shots.
They had 12 turnovers at halftime.
They picked up technical fouls.
“You got to be more poised than we were,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
Beyond the stat sheet
LeBron James did not take a shot in the first quarter as the Lakers fell behind 30-23. Asked about it after the game, James pointed out that D’Angelo Russell scored the Lakers’ first 11 points and Anthony Davis’ chipped in seven points in the first quarter.
Also, James had four rebounds and four assists before he attempted his first shot.
“That’s just how the game was going and I’m never a force guy,” LeBron said. “I’ve always been a guy that let the game come to me and make my imprint when needed.”
James was needed in the second quarter and he scored 10 points as the Lakers rallied from an 11-point deficit and led at halftime 59-48.
“Bron’s a guy that can dominate the game from so many different aspects,” Russell said. “Obviously, the regular fan will recognize scoring, dunking, things that are loud like that.
“But he still affects the game with defense, passing … with communication, all those little things you don’t see on the stat sheet, he still led us in a way that you might not see.”
‘Contest without fouling’
The differential in free throws attempted was glaring.
The Lakers were 28 for 37 from the free throw line compared to 12 for 17 for the Warriors. It should be no shock.
Bigger and more physical than the Warriors, the Lakers lead the NBA in free throw attempts. The Warriors are last. The differential gave the Lakers a chance to amass easy points, slowed down the Warriors and has proven to be a significant factor.
Game 1: The Lakers were 25 for 29 from the free throw line, the Warriors were 5 of 6 and the Lakers won, 117-112.
Game 2: The Lakers were 10 of 17 from the line, the Warriors were 10 of 16 from the line and the Warriors won, 127-100.
Game 3, yet another significant discrepancy at the free throw line and another Lakers’ win. So what do the Warriors do?
“More emphasis to play with our hands back, stay on our feet and contest without fouling,” Thompson said.
Curry appeared to be referencing the free throw disparity when he said, “Just remain confident in who we are and how we play and not get distracted by stuff that you can’t control. That’s a test that every team has to go through as a team, blocking out that type of stuff as much as we can.”
Energy, effort, urgency
In blowing out the Lakers in Game 2, the Warriors scored 41 points in the second quarter and 43 points in the third quarter. In Game 3, the Warriors scored 38 points combined.
The Lakers’ defense was magnificent.
“You can talk about coverages and adjustments and all that,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said, “but the basic foundation of us executing anything is our approach. Our energy, our effort, our urgency. …
“I just think our guys were awesome tonight in terms of their competitiveness.”
But Ham said the 30-point margin of victory Saturday night is irrelevant as the teams prepare for Game 4 on Monday.
“This is going to be a battle to the end, man,” he said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Warriors ‘punked’ by Lakers in NBA playoffs West semifinal blowout