LOS ANGELES — It was a basic rest-or-rust sport for the Lakers.
They hadn’t performed a sport since Monday because of a hiccup within the NBA schedule, and it undoubtedly confirmed Friday towards the Philadelphia 76ers. Rating one for rust.
However the Lakers persevered and relied on their protection in a 101-94 victory over the 76ers at Crypto.com Enviornment. Rating one for a rested protection?
The Lakers have owned one of many NBA’s worst defenses for the reason that All-Star break however managed to carry a crew beneath 100 for the primary time since limiting New Orleans to 89 factors on Dec. 7.
It wasn’t fairly, it received’t be on any end-of-the-year spotlight recaps, however the Lakers (38-32) will take the victory as they held on to ninth place within the Western Convention.
“Ugly,” LeBron James stated of the win. “However we acquired the job executed.”
Anthony Davis was one rebound in need of a 20-20 sport and D’Angelo Russell set the document for many three-pointers in a season by a Lakers participant. Extra excellent news got here from San Francisco, the place Tenth-place Golden State misplaced to Indiana and fell 1.5 video games behind the Lakers within the standings.
Any separation within the standings is nice separation, although the Lakers precipitated their very own issues by separating themselves from the ball too usually Friday.
Twenty-one turnovers have been a killer, together with eight from James, an unusually excessive quantity for a participant who dominates the ball like he does. Russell completed with 5, additionally a bit excessive for him.
“We got here out sloppy,” Davis instructed Spectrum SportsNet, noting the plethora of turnovers. “That’s horrible for us. That’s how this [76ers] crew stayed within the sport.”
However the Lakers held Philadelphia to woeful 34.4% capturing.
“We simply wished to verify our protection stays constant,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham stated. “Second half, we did an amazing job regardless of a few of our offensive errors.”
The Lakers have been significantly efficient within the second half, holding the 76ers to 24 factors within the third quarter and 18 within the fourth. Philadelphia (38-32) merely couldn’t make any pictures. Guard Tyrese Maxey is having a breakthrough season and can most likely win the NBA’s Most Improved Participant award, however he made solely 10 of 26 pictures for 27 factors.
The Lakers acquired most of their offense from Davis, who scored 23 factors on 10-for-16 capturing. He additionally took 19 rebounds.
Russell carved out a bit of historical past by drilling a three-pointer off a move from James midway by way of the primary quarter, setting the all-time crew document for threes in a season. Russell made 4 threes to whole 187, 4 greater than Nick Van Exel in 1994-95.
“This franchise is likely one of the most prestigious so to have my title, simply to be part of it, greater than grateful,” stated Russell, who completed with 14 factors. “Simply need to preserve persevering with to shatter it if I can. Make it actually, actually laborious for the subsequent individual.”
Have been the Lakers rusty? Sure. However did they get simply sufficient relaxation this week to outlast Philadelphia? The Lakers don’t actually care. They beat the 76ers, a essential truth with solely 12 video games left within the common season.