The Los Angeles Lakers needed a spark heading into the fourth quarter of Game 4 against the Golden State Warriors. Up 2-1 in the series, they knew the Warriors would bring high-level intensity, and that is exactly what they did to take down the reigning NBA champions.
Los Angeles was trailing by seven points heading into the fourth quarter. Already riding Anthony Davis and LeBron James hard, the team needed someone else to step up and provide a spark. That is exactly what they got from Lonnie Walker IV.
While a lot of praise will go to James and Davis for two more strong performances, it was Walker who certainly earned the game ball. He scored all 15 of his points in the final stanza, going 6-of-9 from the field. He matched the Warriors, who went 6-of-17 as a team.
“I’ve been doing this for 24 years of my life. I’ve always been in the gym, and nothing’s ever gonna change… The harder you work, the more sacrifices you make, the better the outcome.”
Walker is so young that the last time a Laker scored 15 or more points off the bench in the fourth quarter of a playoff game, he wasn’t even born. It occurred 26 years ago to the day when Kobe Bryant did it.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Lonnie Walker IV, Los Angeles Lakers & Golden State Warriors Updates
The biggest shot of the night from Walker came with just under two minutes remaining. The Warriors had just taken the lead two possessions earlier on a Klay Thompson 3-pointer. LeBron James knocked down two free throws before the Lakers got a stop, setting the stage for Walker’s go-ahead basket over Stephen Curry.
“It just comes with a lot of confidence,” Walker said of the shot on Curry. “I made a couple of other shots prior to that, and I think my confidence was for sure at an all-time high. … It’s probably a difficult shot for others, but it really isn’t a difficult shot for me.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Lonnie Walker IV, Los Angeles Lakers & Golden State Warriors Updates
This performance by Walker came out of nowhere. He hasn’t been a regular part of the rotation until Game 3 but has cemented himself as a key cog since. That fourth-quarter performance will be looked back on as a pivotal point for the Lakers this season, especially if they are able to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
“The greatest feeling you could ever imagine,” Walker said when asked to describe his emotions. “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. Just my mental fortitude. I think the hardest thing of being able to play a lot and then not playing at all is sticking with it.”
Golden State’s entire bench scored only 21 points in the game. Walker led the charge for the Lakers’ second unit, which also received 10 points from Dennis Schroder. With Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura only sparingly seeing minutes, Walker and Schorder had to step up and they answered the call.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Lonnie Walker IV, Los Angeles Lakers & Golden State Warriors Updates
Heading into Game 5, eyes will be on Walker to see what kind of encore performance he can put together. Pressure now turns to the Lakers, who have three opportunities to close out and eliminate the defending champions. To get that done, they will need some more steady production from Walker off the bench.
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