By and large, the Lakers won Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Warriors because of forward Anthony Davis.
The eight-time All-Star battered Golden State in the paint, posting a line of 30 points, 23 rebounds and five assists. He helped buttress Los Angeles on an off-night for forward LeBron James as it held on for a 117–112 victory.
After the game, James and Davis shared an instantly memorable moment at the press conference podium.
Reflecting on Davis’s monster performance, James called Davis one of the best players in the NBA and said, “That’s a treat for us, a treat for Lakers Nation and a treat for the franchise to have another (star) that wears the purple and gold, and that’s in the present right now.“
Davis appeared delighted with James's praise, giving him a gentle pat on the shoulder.
"I'll take my watch next week," James quipped. "Or a car."
"AD will be up there when he's done playing. The number 3 will be up in the rafters" 🤝
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 3, 2023
LeBron on AD's historic 30-20 Game 1 performance pic.twitter.com/Hl1BZkkgWe
James and Davis will aim to take a 2–0 series lead Thursday evening in San Francisco.
