#CourtsideColumn KING SURVIVES WARRIORS IN THE PLAY-IN

 

King's Ransom.

Let's be clear.

The skin of their behinds.

That's what the Lakers escaped the play-in in LA by.

From now on they just have to do better if the defending champions want to at least look like they could go back-to-back like Magic delivering on a Pat Riley promise ("yeah...YEAH!").

The seventh seed in the 2021 Playoffs faced off like Cage did Travolta against the eighth, Golden State in this classic California clash of champs. There was no chumps in this contest which really does make for a perfect Playoff precursor. Hate the play-in, or love it. But down 13, the Lakers first-half statistics for one of many of their big-three combinations (James, Davis and Dennis Schröder) looked like the percentage of a jock who didn't swot for his test.

14.3%

Meanwhile everyone's favorite for MVP not playing in Philly, New York or Colorado was putting on a clinic.

Forget "Steph Curry with the shot" boy. It was almost more like the forthcoming free agent the Lakers would love with the upset.

Splashing everything like he was back on his side of the Pacific across the Golden Gate, number 30 had everyone believing again in this former dynasty. Rocking those Oakland jerseys like his rookie year and the time Baron Davis dunked on Dirk and gave Oak Town a Playoff preview of the hope to come in contention.

This team knows all about upsets. You could see it on Anthony Davis' enraged face as Draymond Green had the clamps on him. Putting one of Hollywood's Supermen in the phone booth.

If the Warriors had Klay today they would have dubbed this "over". In a Chick Hearn refrigerator. They didn't even need Durant, but when (more like if) this Hollywood team meets a super one of KD, Kyrie, James Harden and more it could all be a closed door.

With 37 points the leagues scoring champion Curry was scorching hot with the shot, but it was Canadian Andrew Wiggins who really stepped up on this big stage with 21 points off many hard fought plays. Even though the Warriors are now going home after Ja Morant and Memphis said "thank you very much" , Stephen is still your MVP and Wig is no one to write off anymore.

This Warriors team is still nice. Even this Laker fan is thinking Steph stays this Summer. Despite hoping for the opposite.

No matter. The King did his best Chef impression in the waning seconds for those who say he isn't clutch. Hitting a rainbow beautiful, 34 foot three over the greatest of all-time from downtown himself to ice the game with 58.2 to go. Squeezing past as 103 to 100 was all she wrote, following a botched inbounds pass from former Laker Kent Bazemore which Bradley Beal we're sure loved to see.

LB with the clutch 3 J from the 'e' of the STAPLES Center logo may have started colder than the ice around Montrezl Harrell's neck (so much hustle and energy. The heart of this team), but he ended up with a triple-double like Westbrook with, 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his sixth of the season.

Never underestimate the heart of a champion.

Even AD was on the way in the end. The big-man scoring 13 of his 24 in the fourth and final quarter.

Unlucky for Dray and the Dubs.

Against the Warriors the Lake Show was the walking wounded. Especially 'Bron with a bum ankle and a poked eye. But he out all that to the sky with his dagger that even plunged the clouds for rain.

The bear was poked in the eye and a regal lion roared in return.

This will be in the highlight package of one of the GOAT's greatest moments.

“After the finger to the eye, I was seeing three rims and shot at the middle one. By grace, I was able to knock it down,” the Chosen One told all the Zoomed press microphones post game. That sounds like some Larry Bird stuff. Look it up. This long sword from the King like Arthur was his longest make of the season and any go ahead shot in the final 3 minutes of any game he's ever played.

Not bad for a man that along with his dynamic duo partner Davis went 3 for 19 in the first half.

Three lead changes and five ties marked a thriller of a fourth as Alex Caruso had 14 and Schröder stepped up in the end with 12. With the Lakers now booked into the Western Conference Playoffs they must ensure they are firing on all cylinders in The Valley. They face a scorching hot Phoenix Suns led by Devin Booker, who's Florida Bubble still hasn't burst, big Deandre Ayton and James' old friend Chris Paul.

If the Lakers want to stand this heat they better throw the kitchen sink at them. TIM DAVID HARVEY.