6
I Los Angeles Lakers they return to vittoria in what Anthony Davis had called “a game to absolutely win“, against the Oklahoma City Thunder away, and by 129-120.
Match that inaugurated a change in coach Darvin Ham’s starting lineupthat has removed D’Angelo Russell It is inserted Jarred Vanderbilt next to LeBron James, Davis, Taurean Prince e Cam Reddish. A move that was in the air given Russell’s insufficient performance in December and the need for the Lakers to shake themselves up after the mental break following the NBA Cup victory.
Not that Vanderbilt nor Reddish played a memorable game against OKC, quite the opposite Russell than in just 17 minutes off the bench he scored 15 points with 3 assists. For Ham the choice was also defensive, and for “thus also favoring our attack“.
Those who favored the LA attack were though Anthony Davis, 26 points with 11 rebounds and 7 assists against Chet Holmgren and OKC doubles, and a LeBron James 40 points with 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 9 of 9 free throws and a perfect 5 of 5 from three points. For LeBron it’s about the season high in points, and 15 of his final 40 came in the fourth quarter as the Thunder rallied from a single-digit deficit.
“It’s a good feeling knowing that I can still make the right plays to win a game, that I can close it out in the fourth quarter when I’m needed, when an opponent gets a partial start. The assists? You only do them if your teammates make a basket, like they did today. Today we moved the ball and never threw it away, this was the key.”.
7 assists each for LeBron, Davis and Reddish, 9 assist per Austin Reaves and only 9 turnovers for the Lakers, in OKC they weren’t enough 34 points by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander28 points from Jaylen Williams and a double-double 18 points with 10 rebounds Of Holmgrenwhich it has though suffered in defense against Anthony Davis.
He didn’t play for the Lakers Gabe Vincent, who had just returned after more than a month’s absence due to a problem with his left knee. Problem not resolved, the player is not yet healed and surgery is planned which could keep him out for 6-8 weeks at least.
2023-12-24 09:23:40
#Lakers #Russell #bench #LeBron #scores #OKC #beat
