The Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals on Friday to face the Denver Nuggets, but before looking forward to their next opponent, Lakers guard Dennis Schroder is paying respect to another.
The Lakers knocked the defending champion Golden State Warriors out of the playoffs in Friday’s dominant 122-101 Game 6 win in the Western Conference semifinals in Los Angeles, but Schroder was not on the court when the purple and gold confetti sprayed over Crypto.com Arena.
Schroder was ejected with 6:20 remaining in the third quarter after he and Draymond Green were assessed double technicals for a dust-up under the rim. The incident happened after Anthony Davis stole an inbound pass from Donte DiVincenzo and was fouled by Green. Schroder then screamed and flexed in front of Green, who responded by pushing the ball in Schroder’s face. They were both assessed technicals, Schroder’s second of the night, which triggered an automatic ejection. Schroder finished with three points and five assists.
Schroder took to Instagram afterward to praise Green. He shared a series of photos of himself and Green during their double-technical altercation, plus a photo of his pregame outfit.
‘One of the biggest competitors there is !!! @money23green,’ Schroder wrote. ‘A lot of respect for you HOF.’
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James scored 30 points on 10-for-14 shooting, adding nine rebounds and nine assists in the Lakers’ series-clinching victory. Davis finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds and Austin Reaves added 23 points.
Steph Curry scored 32 points, Green finished with nine points and nine rebounds, Klay Thompson had eight points and DiVincenzo added 16 points off the bench.