Anthony Davis didn’t let a sluggish first quarter prevent him from having one of the best postseason performances of his 11-year career. After a 2 for 7 showing across the first 12 minutes, the eight-time All-Star began to turn the tide with a 12-point second quarter, including when he took a hand-off from Austin Reaves and rumbled through the lane at Nikola Jokić to convert a driving layup despite heavy contact with a minute left in the first half. With his Los Angeles Lakers still down by 18 at the break, Davis stayed hot in the second half, where he scored 22 of his game-high 40 points to shave the Denver Nuggets’ lead down to as few as three points. Davis shot 14 for 23 and added 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks with zero turnovers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on May 16, 2023. It was the third 40-point playoff game of Davis’ career and the 20th time he scored at least 30 in a postseason contest. · May 17, 2023