After stealing Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on the road from the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Lakers had a chance to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.
But as was the case in the previous round versus the Memphis Grizzlies, they were outplayed and outhustled in Game 2.
The Lakers built a seven-point lead at the end of the first quarter and looked somewhat in control, but Klay Thompson heated up in the second quarter and Golden State outscored them, 41-23, in the period. The onslaught grew worse in the third quarter; the Warriors won the period 43-24. The game was effectively over with a quarter remaining.
They got the job done by going supernova from 3-point range. The Warriors flamed out from that distance in the second half of Game 1, but, on Thursday, they went 21-of-42 from downtown, which was the biggest factor in their 127-100 victory.
After forging a big advantage in free throws on Tuesday, the Lakers shot only 17, making only 10 of them, compared to 16 attempts for Golden State on Thursday. It was one of many areas they will need to address in advance of Game 3 in Los Angeles on Saturday.