The Los Angeles Lakers stole home-court advantage with a 117-112 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Los Angeles dominated, controlling the interior on both ends of the floor, with Anthony Davis practically camping in the paint all game. In Game 1, he and LeBron James combined for seven blocks. 

“It hurt [Golden State’s] offense,” The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson said about the Lakers’ strategy. “It turned them into a three-point chucking team. They didn’t get anything inside.” 

Golden State was only 14-for-35 in the paint.

However, the Warriors — who play the Lakers at home in Game 2 on Thursday — found something at the end of the game that they should lean on.

At the six-minute mark of the fourth quarter, with the Lakers ahead 112-98, the Warriors went small, subbing in 6-foot-4 Jordan Poole for 6-foot-9 Kevon Looney. It was the right decision despite Looney’s dominance on the glass (career-high 23 rebounds). 

The move sparked a 14-0 run, culminating with a Stephen Curry three to tie the score with just over a minute remaining.

By going small and putting Curry on the ball, Golden State found its groove. In the fourth quarter alone, Curry scored 14 points, including nine consecutively.