The Los Angeles Lakers made the first move in their Western Conference semifinal series against the Golden State Warriors by winning Game 1, 117-112, on Tuesday.
Defensively, they held the dynamic Warriors to 48 points and 34.8% shooting from 3-point range in the second half. They also limited themselves to just eight turnovers, which helped keep Golden State’s transition game at bay.
But the biggest reason L.A. won was Anthony Davis. He eviscerated the defending NBA champs with 30 points on 11-of-19 field-goal shooting and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, 23 rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots.
This was likely the greatest playoff game he has ever had. For starters, he has never grabbed at least 20 rebounds in a playoff game, let alone put up 30 points and 20 rebounds in such a contest.
By doing so on Tuesday, Davis joined some extremely impressive historical company.
Davis joins Shaquille O'Neal
Game 1 was the first time since 2004 a Lakers player had at least 30 points and 20 boards in a postseason game. The last time came in Game 4 of that year’s NBA Finals when Shaquille O’Neal put up 36 points and 20 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons.
Absolutely Dominant 📝 pic.twitter.com/dHkvFZocpE
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 3, 2023
Many will recall that O’Neal had a number of monster games in the spring and summer, especially during his eight years in the Purple and Gold.
Tuesday was Davis’ third playoff game this year with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds, making it the first time a Laker has done so since O’Neal got it done in 2001.
Anthony Davis is the first Laker since Shaq (2001) to have at least three 30-point, 15-rebound games in one postseason.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) May 3, 2023
That year, O’Neal actually did it four times, including back-to-back 40-point, 20-rebound games.
Davis joins O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor in another group
By having a 30-20 game, Davis became only the fifth Laker to record at least 30 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game.
The others? O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.
5th Laker….
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) May 3, 2023
That is some very selective company.
LeBron James was effusive in his praise of his co-superstar after Game 1, saying that Davis’ No. 3 jersey will someday be hanging in the rafters of Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron James on Anthony Davis joining Shaq, Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain in Lakers history: “That’s why their jerseys are in the rafters. AD will be up there when he’s done playing. He continues to show why he’s one of the best players in this league.” pic.twitter.com/LtJp319bQK
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 3, 2023
Davis is right there with The Big Fundamental
A non-Laker big man who is a fixture on almost everyone’s list of the 10 greatest players ever is Tim Duncan, who won five championships with the San Antonio Spurs and regularly filled the stat sheet.
When Davis came into the NBA in 2012, he was compared to Duncan, and on Tuesday, he proved why. He joined the Spurs legend as the only other player to record 30 points, 20 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in a playoff game.
Blocks were first tracked in 1973-74.
Since then, only 2 players have recorded 30+ PTS, 20+ REB, 5+ AST, and 4+ BLK in a playoff game.
Tim Duncan
Anthony Davis pic.twitter.com/8wF5ro9kDh— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 3, 2023
Keep in mind blocks didn’t become an official statistic until the 1973-74 season, so Chamberlain and likely Bill Russell also belong in this category unofficially.
