Los Angeles Lakers talisman LeBron James showered praise on Lonnie Walker IV after their 104-101 win against Golden State Warriors on Monday night to help his team take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals and help them inch one step closer to the Western finals.
Lonnie Walker IV was at his best absolute best in the final quarter of the game, scoring all of his 15 points in the last 12 minutes of the game. The Lakers outclassed the Dubs by 27-17 in the last frame, with Walker doing the lion’s share of the scoring.
LeBron James also played a key role in the team’s win, top-scoring with 27 points but he feels they wouldn’t have won without Walker’s heroics in the last quarter.
“The game ball definitely goes to him,” said James, who also was key in L.A.’s rally from down seven to start the fourth. “We don’t win without him.”
Walker took a crucial shot with GSW’s talisman Steph Curry guarding him to put his team in front with 1:53 remaining on the clock. Lonnie added he had the confidence to take that shot and feels it was an easy shot for hi.
“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.”
After his match-winning rendition, the 24-year-old Walker admitted that it was the best feeling in the world when he was asked to describe his emotions.
“The greatest feeling you could ever imagine,” Walker said.
“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.”
The fifth game of the series will be played on Wednesday night.
