LeBron James, Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell set record for most Lakers points with 20 points
The Lakers lost to the Suns 123-113, but the final score doesn’t really convey how bad the team was. Defensively, Los Angeles wasn’t great, allowing Phoenix to score 45 points in the first quarter.
The Lakers were better this afternoon, but couldn’t get enough stops when they needed to.
LeBron James got things off to a great start with a dunk, followed by a well-timed shot from D’Angelo Russell to get the Lakers within range. After a tough start, Anthony Davis, who had to take a shot every time he caught the basketball, finally found some offense.
Even if Los Angeles lost the game, the consistent performance of James, Davis, and Russell was an encouraging sign. In fact, the trio set a franchise record for most players scoring 20 or more points in five consecutive games, ESPN’s Anthony Gharib reports.
James and Davis are used to carrying the load for the Lakers’ offense, but Russell has been with the team since late January. These three have established themselves in the offensive hierarchy, but they’ll need help from the rest of the team if they want to beat a team like the Suns. While it’s good that Los Angeles can rely on its star players and Russell to score, the bigger problem is inconsistent play on both ends of the floor.
The team as a whole wasn’t feeling well for most of the day in Phoenix, and it took a double-digit deficit to start playing with more focus and intensity. Unfortunately for the Purple and Gold, the schedule only gets tougher from here.
The team will have two days off before facing the Los Angeles Clippers, with James, Russell and Davis looking to extend their winning streak.
Head coach Darwin Hamm has not been satisfied with the team’s play since the All-Star break, and the team is currently 1-2. Even after the lone win, Ham emphasized the need for the Lakers to do the little things like sprinting in transition and taking care of the basketball. Are you subscribed to our YouTube channel?
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After decades in the same arena, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers may meet for the last time at Crypto.com Arena, with the former being the road team. Barring a playoff game, the Clippers will next host the Lakers at the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
This matchup has been an interesting cross-town rivalry over the years, but in recent memory the Clippers owned the purple and gold during the regular season. The Clippers have already won 11 straight against the Lakers, and LeBron James and Anthony Davis were able to win their first two games of the season.
January Game 23 was the last meeting between the two teams, with the Clippers winning 127-116, but the Lakers played without James in that game. James and Davis will be available for the deciding final game of the season after Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Phoenix Suns.
The opposing team will be without Paul George, who is recovering from a knee injury, and starting center Ivica Zubac, who is battling illness. Having two starters in the Clippers’ lineup does take away some of the entertainment value, but it does increase the Lakers’ chances of securing an upset victory. I
n their last matchup, Los Angeles was on the offensive end and couldn’t stop the Clippers. Without George, the focus will shift to James Harden and Kawhi Leonard running the offense. However, limiting role players like Norman Powell, Terrence Mann and Russell Westbrook may be more important for the Lakers as it limits their offense.
The Clippers are a team that excels at 3-point shooting, hitting 14 of 27 (51.9%) in their last game, so controlling the 3-point line will be key. Another key for the Lakers is ending defensive possessions with rebounds after being killed off by the Suns’ offense. Limiting second chance opportunities is very important and will require group work with Davis.
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