If the Golden State Warriors were going to fall down 3-1 to the Los Angeles Lakers, it would likely come by the hands of LeBron James or Anthony Davis. While the Lakers duo did their job, it was an unlikely hero who stunned the Warriors in the fourth quarter on Monday night in Hollywood.
After a strong third quarter, the Warriors carried a seven-point lead into the final frame with a chance to even the series before heading back to the Bay Area. Despite not taking a shot through 15 minutes of playing time, Lonnie Walker IV came alive off the bench for the Lakers in the fourth quarter.
Walker IV tallied 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field in the fourth quarter alone. Walker IV continued to knock down clutch shots while helping the Lakers deplete the Warriors’ advantage.
After the Lakers took control late behind Walker IV’s surprise breakout performance, Steph Curry had back-to-back looks at hitting game-tying jumpers. Yet, the defending NBA Finals MVP’s shot went cold in the final seconds as the Warriors fell to the Lakers, 104-101.
Following the Warriors’ loss in Game 4 to drop to 3-1 in the second-round series to the Lakers, the NBA community on Twitter chimed in with different reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on Monday night.
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at the end of the day, one game at a time
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) May 9, 2023
Looks like the Warriors were trying to run a Hammer set. The issue is LeBron and AD were on the weakside. Watch LeBron on this one. Calls for all of the switches, baseline not there, slip not there, turnover. pic.twitter.com/jsRK15mgJN
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) May 9, 2023
Crazy stat https://t.co/OmBQat9BXp
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) May 9, 2023
Candle stay lit 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BnMMzo2bmf
— Lonnie Walker IV (@lonniewalker_4) May 9, 2023
"It's the Lonnie Walker game!"
Heroic 4Q by Walker IV in a CRITICAL Game 4.
GET TO TNT FOR THE FINAL MINUTE. pic.twitter.com/QpKP6tU98L
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2023
LONNIE WALKER IV TAKEOVER 😤 pic.twitter.com/g3ukffZ4zM
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 9, 2023
Lonnie Walker IV is celebrated by his @Lakers teammates after his 15-point 4th quarter!
Lakers now lead the series 3-1… they can advance with a Game 5 win on Wednesday, 10pm/et on TNT. pic.twitter.com/0Z81Pj7dOa
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2023
Lonnie Walker in the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/OAVYXDjLuS
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 9, 2023
Lonnie Walker after game 4 pic.twitter.com/TCgUMm5waS
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) May 9, 2023
Lonnie Walker put the @Lakers on his back tonight scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 9, 2023
Lonnie Walker in the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/GNohvINJxa
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 9, 2023
Lonnie Walker IV nearly outscored the entire Warriors' team in the fourth quarter 😳 pic.twitter.com/lSZit7y6PD
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 9, 2023
I think I was calling for a guy?? Lol Lonnie Walker stepped up big and did not disappoint! The hardest thing to do is to close a team out like the World Champion Golden State Warriors.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 9, 2023
all we can do is hope and pray and dream that there’s a little bit of lonnie walker in all of us
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) May 9, 2023
This pic of Lonnie Walker IV shooting over Steph 🥶
(via @lonniewalker_4 @graydientLA) pic.twitter.com/PfAEVmA9yh
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 9, 2023
Scoring in the 4th quarter tonight 😳
Lonnie Walker IV: 15 PTS
Warriors: 17 PTSUNREAL. pic.twitter.com/rEfLyF9YWC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 9, 2023
Shoutout Lonnie Walker‼️
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 9, 2023
Updated All Time Lakers
1. Magic
2. Lebron
3. Kareem
4. Shaq
5. Lonnie Walker— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) May 9, 2023
Lonnie Walker 13pt 4Q
Jordan Poole 11pts in the last 3 games combinedHilarious
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) May 9, 2023
The most disappointing part of Jordan Poole is that he was supposed to be the secondary creator that allowed Steph to stay fresh for when he needed to be the primary creator.
JP being ineffective puts all of the creation load on Steph and results in him tiring out.
— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) May 9, 2023
Steph Curry in the last 45 seconds against the Lakers pic.twitter.com/kXJNKJJTsY
— ♛ (@MambaSZN) May 9, 2023
Steph looks exhausted…but there’s no shame in losing to a legend pic.twitter.com/MsyDKQydVX
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) May 9, 2023
How Steph doesn’t get the ball here is horrific coaching and decision making pic.twitter.com/Em7YDeWjpk
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) May 9, 2023
ultimately, the team let steph down
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) May 9, 2023
Can Steph and the Warriors come back from down 3-1? 👀 pic.twitter.com/UkAKVI3IcT
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 9, 2023
Man don’t talk to me bout no efficiency Steph emptied the clip in a playoff game like you supposed to and ended w/ a 30 point triple double
Talk about the guys that didn’t show up, he was front and center.
— Niko (@nikotaughtyou) May 9, 2023
oh, Steph.https://t.co/xmAsFTDSzt pic.twitter.com/tJIzj64JKW
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 9, 2023
After the Klay 3 to go up 99-96 with 3:00 left…
-Steph fouls LBJ
-Klay misses 3
-Lonnie jumper over Steph
-Klay misses bad 3
-Steph fouls LBJ
-Steph makes layup
-Steph misses jumper & 30 foot 3
-Draymond turnover
-Steph throw away on jumpballTough stretch for the Dynasty 3.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) May 9, 2023
tweets about AD’s defense on Steph as if Steph hasn’t continually cooked AD one on one his whole career lmao he just missed one that rattled out then settled for no reason on the deep one, relax
— Danny Kerr (@_dannykerr) May 9, 2023
