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dave mcmenamin
Los Angeles–with lakers Three-game slump, dealing with calf injury austin reeves and one Air-It-Out Team Meeting coming into sunday’s game against Sacramento Kings, Lebron James And luka doncic led LA to dominance win 125-101 To stabilize things a bit.
“I don’t want to make a story of it [just] Me and Luca,” James said. “It’s five guys on the floor and seven guys coming off the bench. We all should have this. [But] It’s important that we set the tone.”
According to ESPN Insights, James made his first three shots in the first three minutes of the game, a slight foreshadowing of what ended up being his most efficient night as a Laker. He made 11 of 13 shots from the field, with his 84.6% shooting percentage not only representing his best as a Laker, but the third-best performance of his 23-year career.
“I felt in pretty good shape tonight,” James said. “I had a good spring in my step, my bounce and I tried to make the most of my touches.”
Although James did most of his damage in the opening frame, Doncic handled the bulk of the scoring in the second quarter, when he scored 15 of his game-high 34 points and went 5 of 7 from the field.
“I think it definitely starts with us,” Doncic said. “And when AR comes back, it’s going to be the three of us. But now, it starts with us. We need to show what we can do and if we’re going to do it, it’s going to be the two of us doing it. The group is going to follow it.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick said it was a carryover for both from Saturday’s practice.
“I’m not surprised with the way both of those guys played together tonight, because yesterday we had one of the best practices with both of them playing together and sharing the basketball and playing two-man action,” Redick said.
LA led 68-53 at halftime and nearly doubled that lead in the first three and a half minutes of the third quarter when it used a 13-2 run from the break to take over the game on defense.
“There were some possessions in that 13-2 run where we started with the mentality of guarding five guys, and that’s really what we’re looking for,” Redick said. “We really want to have five guys involved at all times, on every possession. That’s kind of the north star of how we try to build a good defense.”
After a disappointing 119-96 loss on Thursday Houston Rockets — One NBA’s shameful attempt at Christmas Day platform –The team was informed about this on Friday Reeves will be sidelined for at least four weeks While he is recovering from a strain in the calf muscle of his left leg.
That followed a Saturday team meeting and a rare, lengthy practice that Redick swore would be “uncomfortable,” but the coach described it as an exchange of ideas between coaches and players to gain clarity. And after that, there were even more rare shootouts on Sunday morning — something that almost never happens with a 6:30 p.m. PT tipoff.
In their first chance to go on a walk, the Lakers responded with a top-to-bottom effort.
deandre ayton Had a double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds). Rui Hachimura Scored 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting after taking only six or fewer shots in three of his last four games. Jake Laravia Contributed 11 points, 4 assists and 2 steals off the bench.
And Nick Smith Jr.Signed a two-way contract, made 7-for-7 shots to start the game, scored 21 points in 24 minutes and was later presented the game ball by the team.
Smith said, “In this league, you have to have confidence. If you don’t, they’ll go out there and see it right away.” “I feel like I can hang out with the best of them.”
In another sign of a thorough effort, for the first time all season, the Lakers won all four quarters.
“We got together, talked about some things,” Laravia said. “And if we play like this every night, that’s what I’m talking about when we say, we’re a tough team to beat.”
Sunday was also the last game for James before his 41st birthday on Tuesday, capping a remarkable year of basketball as a 40-year-old. In 56 regular season games between the end of last season and the beginning of this season, James averaged 23.9 points on 52% shooting with 7.4 assists and 7.1 rebounds.
,[Remember] When I did the Father Time commercial [for Nike]?” James said. “I’m at war with him. And I’d like to say I’m kicking his ass on the back nine.”
