After two significant defeats against the Thunder and then the Blazers, the Lakers were not really reassuring. But at least the victory is there. The Californians had to go after an overtime to repel the Hornets who are experiencing a fifth loss in a row.
The two teams were very close to the score in the first period (61-60) before the visitors offered themselves three possessions in advance in the third quarter. Helped by their men from the bench, the Lakers turned the tables to offer themselves up to 14 points in the final period.
Charlotte, who stammered her basketball then, found herself lining up a 16-5 to end the meeting. One of the actions of the game was the transition push from LaMelo Ball who found his sidekick Miles Bridges for a big 3-point equalizer, in transition, 24 seconds to go. Anthony Davis’ last attempt to snatch victory but without any system in place ended in “airball”.
This same “AD” was however decisive in overtime with six points to snatch the victory.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The expulsion of Rajon Rondo. The substitute leader of the Lakers received a flagrant fault II at the start of the fourth quarter for his bad gesture on the head of Terry Rozier. An exit anything but anecdotal because he had taken control of the match in the previous minutes with sequences on the game posed much more convincing than those proposed by Russell Westbrook. Anthony Davis can attest to that… The veteran was instrumental in turning the game around in favor of LA in the third quarter.
– Frank Vogel’s rotations. While James Borrego mainly had to settle for eight players used, Frank Vogel opened his bench more. With good reason because all his men on the bench, from Malik Monk to Austin Reaves to Wayne Ellington, offered quality minutes.
– A not-so-obvious size deficit. We thought we saw the Hornets in pain inside. This was the case against Anthony Davis but overall, the Hornets, helped by the career record in the field of LaMelo Ball (15 catches!), Captured a little more rebounds than their opponents. Also taking advantage of the speed of their backs, the visitors scored more points in the racket.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Anthony Davis. Full match for the interior which, in addition to his big double-double, behaved as a defensive leader (3 interceptions and 5 blocks). He also signed a decisive counter on a 3-point attempt by Terry Rozier at the very end of extra time.
✅ ⛔ Russell Westbrook. Good, with an 186th triple-double and a rather well approached overtime, and much worse. The leader still suffered in address and in managing the tempo. Still very chatting with the referees, he was also guilty of huge defensive mistakes against Gordon Hayward.
✅ The LaMelo Ball pair – Terry Rozier. Second career triple-double for the first and what a triple-double! With a bit of extra skill from afar, he would have been the hero of the evening. The second, in delicacy with his shot so far, has arguably signed the most convincing outing of his season.
⛔ The bench of the Hornets. Like Kelly Oubren Jr, the Hornets bench did not weigh very heavily against that of the Lakers. With the extension, James Borrego had to mobilize four of his holders over 40 minutes or more.
«MELO! MELO! »
The Staples Center is under the spell of the legend and we understand it. The winger, claimed and praised more than once by his audience, had another brilliant evening of skill, especially behind the arc (7/10). Night after night, he poses as a serious candidate for the trophy of 6th man of the year.
THE FOLLOWING
Lakers (6-5) : reception of the Heat, Wednesday.
Charlotte (5-7) : trip to Memphis on Wednesday to put an end to this complicated “road trip” to the West.
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