An LA Lakers star has hit back at the Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr after he accused them of ‘flopping’.
The seventh seeded team have opened up a 3-1 lead over the defending champions in the NBA Playoffs Western Conference semifinals. Despite a triple-double from Stephen Curry, the Lakers were able to maintain their unbeaten home record in this year's postseason by securing a 104-101 win in Game Four earlier this week.
Post-match, Kerr told reporters: “We had three or four illegal screens called. That was disappointing. ... [The Lakers] took some flops and were rewarded.” Point guard Dennis Schröder issued a frank response and claimed they were responding to moves made by the Warriors he deems to be against the rules. “If they set illegal screens, sometimes you gotta show them that they are moving on the screen,” he said.
The 29-year-old played 35 minutes at the Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, and scored 10 points along with three rebounds and three assists. He was part of a team that played exceptional defence as the Lakers extended their lead in the series and are now just one game away from progressing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2020.
LeBron James notched 27 points, six assists and nine rebounds, and Anthony Davis backed up his excellent game three performance with 23 points and 15 rebounds in game four. But the man receiving most of the plaudits is Lonnie Walker IV, who scored some vital points for the Lakers in the fourth quarter.
He scored all 15 of his points in the final stage of the game and he managed just two points less than the entire Warriors team in the game’s final 12 minutes. Schröder was full of praise for his teammate who had barely been given an opportunity in the playoffs, but when given his chance he certainly grabbed it with both hands.
“Crowd is everything. They’re carrying us through the game,” Schroder said after the Lakers’ three-point victory. “Gave us the energy in the fourth as well, to make that big run. And Lonnie Walker, staying ready. Didn’t play the second half of the season too much. Kept working. Every single time I came to practice I seen him work. And to come in a playoff game and bring that energy and scoring at the end, it’s just a true professional.”
He added: “I’m a team player and I always love when people succeed. There was one game I think in Dallas, I had to get on him a little bit and I told him to just stay ready. And that’s the reason why I was super proud because of how he came out and helped us get the W is just big-time. He gave us this win tonight.”
Walker’s performance saw him become the first Lakers bench player to score 15+ points in the fourth quarter of a playoff game since Kobe Bryant 26 years ago. Post-game the player spoke of his delight to help his team win and deliver when it matters most. "The greatest feeling you could ever, ever imagine,” Walker commented.
“As a kid, this is something I’ve been dreaming of doing. Not just being a part of the playoffs, but impacting it, let alone winning in the playoffs. I’m truly proud of myself. It really shows my capabilities and just my mental fortitude.”
