The Lakers struggled to look after the paint, and LeBron James and Russell Westbrook both had surprisingly off nights, however the Lakers gutted out a 122-114 victory over the Sacramento Kings thanks to some grab buckets from James, a stellar efficiency from Talen Horton-Tucker off the bench and key contributions from Malik Monk and Dwight Howard as neatly.
James went just 12-26 from the container after a slow delivery, but nonetheless managed to guide the Lakers in scoring with 31 aspects, including a couple of huge 3-pointers within the fourth quarter to keep the Lakers within the video game as he went shot-for-shot down the stretch with pretty much-Laker friend Hield (who accomplished the night with 26 points and seven three-pointers of his personal).
James got here out on accurate in that duel, and he wasn't afraid to let the Kings find out about it. All in all, LeBron scored or assisted on 20 of the Lakers' 37 facets in the remaining period.
Westbrook had a horrendous delivery to his evening, beginning the online game 1-7 from the field and settling on up a technical foul late within the first quarter. however however his shooting woes endured into the 2nd length, Westbrook's teammates picked him up, because the Lakers outscored the Kings 31-28 within the duration to slender their deficit to 2 elements heading into halftime.
Russ finally settled in during the 2d half to conclude with 19 elements, and most impressively also ended the video game with zero turnovers, the first time he had achieved due to the fact in 407 video games (!).
And whereas Westbrook struggled taking pictures the ball, Horton-Tucker had his top-quality game in weeks, hitting his first three-pointer in 5 games and scoring 19 elements off the bench. The Lakers' younger wing looked assured and aggressive all evening, fidgeting with a stage of smoothness and control that has been absent from his game lately. hopefully it's a sign of things to return.
additionally off the bench, Dwight Howard nearly had a double-double within the first half, notching 12 aspects and eight rebounds on his approach to a 14-point, 14-rebound efficiency. meanwhile, starting shooting take care of Malik Monk continued his contemporary aggressive play on offense, bouncing again from a rough capturing delivery to conclude with 24 aspects, including some late buckets of his personal to hold the Lakers neck-and-neck with the Kings in the fourth before they pulled away.
Carmelo Anthony saw restrained motion within the first half as he picked up three quick fouls. however Anthony additionally got here returned with a couple of well timed buckets to support shut out the third quarter with an 8-2 Lakers run that proved vital in the crew even staying during this game, a good deal much less having ample cushion to win with the aid of the end of rules.
And, similar to Westbrook, the rest of the Lakers did do a far better job limiting turnovers, with just 5 on the night compared to 17 from the Kings, including two costly ones on returned-to-back possessions from Sacramento with beneath a minute to move.
youngsters, L.A.'s defensive woes remained, certainly on the indoors. four distinct Kings scored in double digits, led via De'Aaron Fox with 30 as Fox and the Kings' huge men shredded the Lakers' vulnerable select-and-roll defense.
Alex Len and former Laker Damian Jones, who bought the birth at center for Sacramento on Tuesday, combined for 20 elements, showing the barriers of the Lakers' small-ball method with Trevor Ariza still certainly not one hundred% after ankle surgery and a bout with COVID-19, and Howard handiest helpful in small spurts (the less we are saying about DeAndre Jordan, who didn't play in this one, the more suitable).
but despite the fact L.A. has considered a great deal more success offensively with LeBron enjoying heavier minutes than he's used to on middle, they're nevertheless missing a great deal defensively devoid of Anthony Davis in shape, as evidenced by using how they have been torched by two journeymen facilities in Jones and Len tonight. This online game turned into an illustration of how they could dwell small and take competencies of the extra spacing that offers them, clearing using lanes for James and Westbrook, however additionally how they could integrate a bit more size with Howard when critical to support stop the bleeding on protection.
This victory strikes the Lakers to twenty-19 on the season, and the group will now get two days off earlier than returning to The Crypt to host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. PST on ESPN.
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