2023 NBA playoffs: LeBron James leads LA Lakers past Warriors into Western Conference Final
The Lakers will meet the Denver Nuggets in the West final with Jimmy Butler's Miami Heat awaiting the winner of Sunday's Game 7 between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Basketball
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are heading back to the NBA Western Conference Finals.
James posted 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as the Lakers won 122-101 on Friday (13 May) at their Crypto.com Arena to clinch a 4-2 series win over the Golden State Warriors.
Steph Curry was the game's top scorer with 32 points, but could not stop the defending NBA champions suffering their first loss in a conference series under coach Steve Kerr.
It means the eighth-seeded Lakers will face Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the West finals. That's after the Nuggets put out the Phoenix Suns 4-2.
Not for the first time this season, the Warriors were below-par with their shooting on the road as they hit just 37.9 percent from the field.
The Lakers flew out of the blocks and Austin Reaves' three-pointer saw them go into a 27-10 lead with 4:40 left in the first quarter.
By that point, Anthony Davis had already notched up seven rebounds and he would finish with 20 on the night.
Curry then made an impact, scoring a quick 11 points to close the gap to 31-26 at the end of the quarter, but the visitors were never able to get on terms.
And when Reaves - who hit a spectacular three on the half-time buzzer in his 23 points - made two free throws to put the Lakers up 106-82 with 7:17 remaining, the game was up for the holders.
Davis said "togetherness" is the reason for the Lakers' success so far in the playoffs, adding, "We wanna shock the world!"
On facing top seeds Denver, James told reporters, "It's going to be a great series. You've got two well coached teams. We give them a lot of respect."
Miami through to East Finals
Eastern Conference seventh seeds Miami Heat defeated the New York Knicks 96-92 to win their semi-final series 4-2.
Jimmy Butler scored 24 points and Bam Adebayo 23 as the Heat made a quick return to the East Finals having gone down in Game 7 to the Boston Celtics last year.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson's 41 points proved in vain as the Heat roared back from 31-17 down in the first period to lead 51-50 at the half.
The home side were never headed after that, despite the Knicks keeping it tight, and they could again face the Celtics who meet the Philadelphia 76ers in a Game 7 on Sunday.
The Heat last reached the NBA Finals in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, going down to the Lakers 4-2.
What is the NBA Conference Finals schedule?
Western Conference
Denver Nuggets (1) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7)
- Game 1: Lakers at Nuggets | Tue., May 16 | 8.30pm ET
- Game 2: Lakers at Nuggets | Thurs., May 18 | 8.30pm ET
- Game 3: Nuggets at Lakers | Sat., May 20 | 8:30pm ET
- Game 4: Nuggets at Lakers | Mon., May 22 | 8:30pm ET
- Game 5*: Lakers at Nuggets | Wed., May 24 | 8:30pm ET
- Game 6*: Nuggets at Lakers | Fri., May 26 | 8:30pm ET
- Game 7*: Lakers at Nuggets | Sun., May 28 | 8:30pm ET
Eastern Conference
TBD vs. Miami Heat (7)
- Game 1: Heat at TBD | Wed., May 17 | 8.30pm ET
- Game 2: Heat at TBD | Fri., May 19 | 8.30pm ET
- Game 3: TBD at Heat | Sun., May 21 | 8:30pm ET
- Game 4: TBD at Heat | Tue., May 23 | 8:30pm ET
- Game 5*: Heat at TBD | Thu., May 25 | 8:30pm ET
- Game 6*: TBD at Heat | Sat., May 27 | 8:30pm ET
- Game 7*: Heat at TBD | Mon., May 29 | 8:30pm ET
How to watch the 2023 NBA playoffs live
Viewers in the U.S. will be able to watch the 2023 NBA playoffs on ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. During the first round and conference semifinals, select games will air on each of the aforementioned networks.
International viewers can catch the action through local broadcasters, or the NBA League Pass app, available on mobile, PC, and smart TVs.