The Lakers led by just one point at the half after an evenly contested first half that saw several lead changes. However, they were able to take control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Hornets 41-23, and they never looked back as they won 133-112 on Thursday night. With the victory, the Lakers return to their road trip to finish the year two games above.500 on the season.
In this one, seven Lakers scored in double figures, but Anthony Davis took the lead once again in what was yet another impressive performance this month. In addition to scoring 26 points, Davis also pulled down eight rebounds, disheveled two assists, stole two steals, blocked four shots, and made 11 of his 19 field goals and all four of his free throws.
Davis was the one who kept the Lakers together early in the game when they were not playing at their best as a team, both energetically and on the scoreboard. In addition to skillfully policing the paint defensively, Davis also darted out to the perimeter to thwart the Hornets’ attack and contest wing shots. Then, in that incredible third-quarter push, he raced the floor to get good position in the paint for scores, set excellent screens, dove into the defense’s teeth to finish in traffic, and ultimately set the tone for the rest of the team to follow.
Rui Hachimura did a fantastic job of playing a crucial role in the Lakers taking control in the second half, if AD set the tone in the first. Rui got the starting position in place of Cam Reddish, who was forced to miss the game due to a sore groin. He started the game slowly but picked up his pace in the third quarter. Rui scored 12 points in the third quarter on 5-of-6 shooting and 2-2 from the foul line, following a five-point first half on 2-of-6 shooting.
Rui used his speed and strength in the post, raced the floor in transition, and made deft passes with the ball to create good shots that he would eventually knock down. Rui is most effective when he plays an aggressive and straightforward game, as Coach Ham has stated. After the break, he attacked single coverage with forceful moves that the Hornets were ill-prepared to counter. His final stat line of 17 points and four rebounds does not fully reflect his contribution to the game; however, his box score of +34 does.
.
Like Rui, LeBron James did not have the most efficient scoring effort in the first half (five points on 2-of-6 shooting), but coming out of halftime he played with a vigor and tempo that put the Lakers firmly into the driver’s seat. LeBron finished the game with 17 points, 11 assists, and four rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting, but 12 of those points and five of those dimes came in the 3rd quarter where he (and Rui) put the Hornets on their heels.
LeBron, Rui, and AD set the tone for the starting lineup, but the bench played a fantastic game all night long, keeping the Lakers in the game early and holding the Hornets at bay in the second half to spare LeBron and AD from playing in the fourth quarter.
While D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves led the reserves with 16 points apiece on effective shooting (6 of 8 for Reaves, 5 of 10 for Russell), Max Christie and Christian Wood filled in for minutes they had not been receiving in previous games and showed they were prepared to contribute when their numbers were called.
Christie contributed 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists to his impressive floor game. He also played solid positional defense, blocking two shots at the hoop with his help side. Wood, on the other hand, made three of four shots for nine points, including a flawless three-pointer from beyond the arc. A balanced player on both ends of the court in two-big lineups next to AD and then as the lone big in lineups with Rui and/or LeBron flanking him in the front court, Wood also pulled down five rebounds and disheveled out four assists.
The Hornets managed to keep things close early on despite the fact that the game got away from them in the second half thanks to a number of outstanding individual performances. In contrast, rookie swingman Brandon Miller performed admirably, scoring 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting (3-5 from three), two assists, a steal, and a block. Terry Rozier added 18 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. Moreover, Nik Richards recorded a double-double with ten rebounds and eleven points.
Unfortunately for Charlotte, once the Lakers found their offensive groove and their defense improved to contest shots on the perimeter, playing with a unity that was too strong to overcome, they simply did not have enough to compete with them without LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward. The team’s 41 assists on 52 made baskets and just 11 turnovers were indicative of this, suggesting the team is making offensive progress just when it is needed.
The Lakers will now resume their road trip and attempt to exact revenge when they play the Timberwolves for the second time in ten days when they return to Minnesota.
GET MORE NEWS HERE