Lakers vs Warriors Game 5: Key Plays That Decided This Epic NBA Playoff Battle

I still remember sitting courtside for Game 5 of that epic Lakers-Warriors series, the energy in Crypto.com Arena so thick you could almost taste the tension. Having covered the NBA for over fifteen years, I've witnessed countless playoff battles, but this particular matchup had that special quality where every possession felt like it could determine the entire series. The game ultimately came down to a handful of critical moments that shifted momentum in ways that still have analysts debating months later. What fascinates me about these high-stakes games isn't just the athletic brilliance on display, but the psychological warfare happening between timeouts - the subtle adjustments, the mental resilience, and those split-second decisions that separate champions from contenders.

The first truly decisive moment came late in the third quarter with the Warriors leading by 8 points. Anthony Davis, who'd been relatively quiet offensively until that point, made a defensive play that completely changed the game's complexion. Steph Curry drove baseline, looking for what appeared to be an easy layup, but AD's perfectly timed help defense resulted in a block that ignited a fast break. What made this sequence special wasn't just the block itself, but how it sparked a 12-2 Lakers run that completely erased Golden State's momentum. I've always believed championship teams need these momentum-shifting defensive plays as much as they need offensive fireworks, and this block was textbook AD at his best. The Lakers scored 18 points off turnovers in the second half alone, a statistic that doesn't fully capture how those transition opportunities demoralized the Warriors' defense.

Then there was LeBron's three-pointer with 1:23 left in the fourth quarter - a shot I'll remember for years. The Lakers were clinging to a precarious 3-point lead, and the possession had broken down with the shot clock winding down. James dribbled to his left, created just enough separation against Draymond Green's phenomenal defense, and launched from about 26 feet. Watching that ball arc through the air, I turned to my colleague and whispered "this is going in" before it even left his hands. There's something about LeBron in these moments - you can see the calculation happening in real time, the thousands of hours of practice manifesting in one fluid motion. That shot pushed the lead to 6 and essentially sealed the game, though the Warriors would make it interesting with a quick Curry three on the next possession. What impressed me most was LeBron's decision-making - he took exactly 23 shots throughout the game, finishing with 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, just two dimes shy of another playoff triple-double.

The Warriors had their opportunities too, and I can't help but wonder about the alternative universe where Klay Thompson's corner three with 38 seconds remaining had fallen instead of rattling out. That shot was so clean coming off his hands, and from my angle, it looked money all the way. Golden State actually shot 42% from beyond the arc for the game, making 18 threes compared to LA's 11, but they missed several crucial ones down the stretch. Steve Kerr's decision to go small with Jordan Poole alongside Curry and Thompson created offensive fireworks but left them vulnerable on the glass - the Lakers grabbed 14 offensive rebounds leading to 19 second-chance points. As a basketball purist, I've always believed playoff basketball rewards size and physicality, and this game reinforced that belief, even in today's perimeter-oriented league.

What struck me most about this game was the mental resilience both teams displayed. There's a quote from Calvin Abueva that kept coming to mind during those tense final minutes: "May pagkakataon pa naman na bumalik tayo sa ganung sitwasyon, di ba? Na ganun ang standing. Pero trabaho talaga eh." Roughly translating to "We still have chances to return to that situation, right? That kind of standing. But it's really work." This perfectly captures the professional mindset required in these high-pressure moments. Both teams understood the stakes, yet approached each possession with workmanlike focus despite the emotional rollercoaster. When the Warriors cut the lead to 2 with under a minute left, the Lakers didn't panic - they ran their offense, got the ball to LeBron in the post, and trusted their system. Similarly, when Golden State found themselves down 7 early in the fourth, they didn't abandon their game plan but instead doubled down on their motion offense.

The final key play that doesn't get enough attention was Austin Reaves' defensive stop against Jordan Poole with about 3 minutes left. Poole had beaten his man off the dribble and seemed to have a clear path to the basket, but Reaves stayed disciplined, avoided the foul, and forced a difficult contested layup that missed. That's the kind of under-the-radar play that championship teams need from role players. Reaves finished with just 10 points but his plus-minus of +15 led all reserves, illustrating his impact beyond the box score. Having watched his development closely, I've been impressed by his basketball IQ and composure in big moments - qualities that can't be taught.

Looking back, this game exemplified why playoff basketball is the purest form of the sport. The Lakers ultimately won 112-109, with Davis finishing with 28 points and 19 rebounds, dominating the paint when it mattered most. The Warriors got 31 from Curry and 25 from Thompson, but their 16 turnovers proved costly, leading to 24 Lakers points. What stays with me isn't just the statistical narrative but the human drama - the exhausted smiles during postgame interviews, the visible relief on the Lakers' bench, the quiet determination in the Warriors' locker room as they faced elimination. Games like these remind me why I fell in love with basketball - not just for the athletic spectacle, but for these raw, unfiltered moments of competition where legacy is forged one possession at a time. The Lakers would eventually win the series in six games, but this Game 5 victory established the template for their success - defensive intensity, timely shot-making, and veteran poise under pressure.