Coming off a loss to the New York Knicks that snapped a three-game winning streak, the Los Angeles Lakers looked to get back on track versus the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
They did exactly that, as they blitzed the Pelicans in the opening minutes and never looked back. Los Angeles scored the game’s first 14 points and led by as many as 40 points at one time in the third quarter.
It did so by shooting 9-of-14 from 3-point range in the first quarter and 15-of-27 in the first half. Its 15 treys in the first half set a franchise record, as it lead 75-40 at intermission, giving it another franchise record for the biggest first-half lead it has ever had since moving to Los Angeles.
The Pelicans made a run late in the third quarter and in the fourth quarter as the Lakers’ offense became slow, stagnant and turnover-prone. But it was too little, too late, as Anthony Davis and company held on for a relatively easy 123-108 victory.
Los Angeles is still in ninth place in the Western Conference, but it is tied with the eighth-place Dallas Mavericks, who hold the tiebreaker, with a 34-35 record, and it is two games behind the sixth-place Los Angeles Clippers.
Anthony Davis: A
Davis scored just 25 combined in his last two games, and everyone was looking to see whether he would bounce back strong on Tuesday against his former team.
That’s just what he did, as had 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the first quarter and finished with 35 points on 11-of-18 shooting and 12-of-13 from the free throw line, plus 17 rebounds.
He was aggressive early, not just in terms of attacking the paint, but also in terms of going after rebounds on both the defensive and offensive boards.
Head coach Darvin Ham hinted that Davis may sit out Wednesday’s contest at the Houston Rockets, given that it will be the second of a back-to-back set on the road. If he does, it will be a well-deserved night off.
Jarred Vanderbilt: B
Vanderbilt was more effective on Tuesday than he was on Sunday against the Knicks. He grabbed eight rebounds and dished off three assists in 28 minutes while taking on the responsibility of guarding Brandon Ingram.
Story…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lakers-player-grades-l-drowns-030636023.html?src=rss
Author : Lebron Wire
Publish date : 2023-03-15 03:06:36
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