Warriors beat Lakers 121-106 to avoid elimination and force Game 6.

The defending champion Golden State Warriors avoided elimination by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 121-106 in Game 5 of the Western Conference playoffs on Wednesday night.

Stephen Curry had 27 points and eight assists, and Andrew Wiggins contributed 25 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

Los Angeles' LeBron James finished with 25 points and nine rebounds. Anthony Davis had 23 points and nine rebounds, but he left the game late after seeming to be smacked in the head by Kevon Looney.

With 5:25 remaining, Austin Reaves sank a 3-pointer to cut the Warriors' advantage to 104-95, only for Curry to respond with five straight points, then hit another key shot after D'Angelo Russell connected from deep.

Draymond Green had 20 points and 10 rebounds as Golden State played solid defence that led to more offensive opportunities, precisely as coach Steve Kerr had challenged his team to do.

Now it's back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Friday night, with the Lakers 5-0 at home this postseason, having won eight consecutive home games since falling to the Bulls on March 26.

Curry hit a 3-pointer over Lonnie Walker IV to beat the halftime buzzer, giving the Warriors a 70-59 lead. Golden State scored 70 points in the first half, its most in the playoffs since scoring 72 in a Game 6 first-round win over the Clippers in 2019. 

Phoenix scored 71 points in the first half of a playoff game against the Lakers in Game 4 of the 2000 second round.

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