The Lakers won’t escape that easily against the defending NBA champions.

The Golden State Warriors forced a Game 6 with a decisive 121-106 victory Wednesday over the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.

It wasn’t a must-win Wednesday for the Lakers and at times it showed. Their defense was nonchalant and their rebounding was subpar.

It could also be a costly loss for the Lakers beyond the final score. Center Anthony Davis left the game with 7:34 to play after being struck in the head by Kevon Looney while the Warriors’ center tried to box out Davis.

Davis checked out of the game and sat bleary-eyed on the bench for a few minutes, holding his head almost the entire time. He eventually headed to the locker room. His night was done.

The early indication was that Davis avoided a concussion, according to TNT.

Game 6 is Friday at Crypto.Com Arena, while Game 7, if necessary, would be back at Golden State.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham did not have much information immediately after the game about Davis but indicated he was feeling better.

“Obviously, everyone saw he took a shot to the head,” Ham said. “He seems to be doing really good already.”

Davis did not speak to reporters after the game. He finished with 23 points and nine rebounds.

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green lived to see another day and pulled within 3-2 in the series.

The Warriors didn’t win their typical way. No three-point blitzes. No giant runs on the scoreboard. Just a slow, steady win while taking 10 more rebounds than the Lakers.

Curry put up his typically solid stats — 27 points and eight assists — but Green was the one with the surprise scoring punch. The light-scoring Warriors’ big man scored 20 points, well above the 6.8 he averaged in this series before Wednesday.

“He came out aggressive,” Ham said before alluding to the Lakers’ let-Green-shoot mantra. “There’s going to be opportunities the way we’re defending him.”

Despite the loss, the Lakers can take comfort in returning home for Game 6. They are 6-0 at Crypto.com Arena this postseason, including a play-in tournament victory over Minnesota.

“We’ve got to be better on Friday, for sure,” Lakers forward LeBron James said. “We’re a very resilient team and we respond well to adversity. We look forward to getting an opportunity to play again on Friday.

James had 25 points and nine rebounds in 39 minutes.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves scored 15 points and had the most succinct assessment of why the Warriors won.

“They’re defending champs for a reason,” he said.