Warriors’ title defense ends with Game 6 loss to Lakers

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GAME 6: Warriors at Lakers at Crypto.com Arena at 7 p.m. TV: ESPN. Announcers: Mike Breen (play-by-play), Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy (color commentary), Lisa Salters (sideline reporting).

ODDS: Lakers -3. OVER/UNDER: 219.5. (Both from Caesars Sportsbook.)

CURRENT SERIES: Lakers lead 3-2. SEASON SERIES: Lakers went 3-1 against the Warriors in the regular season. PRIOR PLAYOFF HISTORY: Lakers have won 6-of-7 postseason series, including the last one in 1991.

Gone are all of the niceties and the love shared between the Warriors and Lakers at the start of this Western Conference semifinal series. Now, it’s a real matchup — and perhaps the kick-start to a rivalry.

The Warriors and Lakers will play a crucial Game 6 in Los Angeles on Friday night, with the Warriors needing to win in order to keep their season alive and force a Game 7 back in san Francisco on Sunday.

But the last few days have had coaches accusing each other’s teams of gamesmanship and drawing attention to how the series is officiated, players going all-out on the floor and even injuries picked up here and there.

The Warriors already won once in an elimination game, back in San Francisco on Wednesday. Can the defending champions summon another special performance in a road Game 6 to force a Game 7 and keep the chance at a most karmic 3-1 comeback alive?

It’s also a game they need to win in order to extend one of the most remarkable streaks in basketball — 28 consecutive playoffs series with a win on the road — to a 29th series in a row. One has to think Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are especially proud of that track record and want to keep it going.

And if they lose? Could this be the final game as a Warrior for Green? For Jordan Poole? For general manager Bob Myers? It’s entirely possible.

That’s the fun of the playoffs, really. Every game just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Follow along with our reporters Madeline Kenney, Shayna Rubin and columnist Dieter Kurtenbach and other analysts providing their thoughts about the game.