Lakers vs. Warriors score: L.A. takes 3-1 series lead with help from unlikely hero in Game 4

Lonnie Walker was a hero with all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter

The Los Angeles Lakers pulled out a thriller in Game 4 on Monday, defeating the Golden State Warriors, 104-101, to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. 

LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for 50 points, but the hero of the night was Lonnie Walker, who scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter. L.A. scored the first three buckets of the final period to erase a seven-point Warriors lead in the flash. 

"We don't win this game without Lonnie Walker, that's for sure," James said of Walker in his postgame interview on TNT. 

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with a 31-point triple-double, adding 14 assists and 10 rebounds, but he did not have a good shooting night, finishing just 12 of 30 from the field, including 3 of 14 from deep. Curry had two jumpers with a chance to take the lead with under 30 seconds left, and missed them both. 

Then, with the Warriors down three, after retaining a jump ball, Curry panicked and threw a pass out of bounds rather than using Golden State's final timeout. It was not a good ending for Curry or the Warriors as they'll now have to find a way to pull off what is as close to an impossible task as exists in the NBA: come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series. 

It's only been done 13 times in history, which is actually more than you probably figured. The Warriors, of course, have been on the wrong side of one of those 13 times, losing a 3-1 lead to LeBron's Cavs in the 2016 Finals. 

Perhaps the Warriors have a little payback in them. But I wouldn't bet on it. The margin in this series is so small, it's hard to imagine either team winning three straight games. My guess is the Warriors win at home in Game 5 and the Lakers close it out in six. But we'll see. You can't rule the champs out. Game 5 is set for Wednesday in San Francisco. 

[May 9, 2023 at 12:12 am ET · Brad Botkin]

The intensity of this game is off the charts

[May 9, 2023 at 12:01 am ET · Brad Botkin]

And just like that the Lakers tie the game on a 7-0 run to start the fourth. Here we go!