Win, to put pressure on the Clippers before challenging them the next day in a decisive derby. This was the mission of Lakers in Salt Lake City, where the Jazz had to make sure to win so as not to say goodbye to his dreams of play-in. Even if, without Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler nor Jordan Clarkson and Rudy Gay, the mission turned out to be complicated…
It is therefore in this tricky context that the teammates of LeBron James (37 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds) and Anthony Davis (21 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists) went on to win in theUtah, having however needed an extension (135-133). And a Austin Reaves (28 points, 6 assists) in X-factor mode.
It was, however, anything but simple for Los Angeles, in the lead almost the entire match and who squandered a +10 advantage in the “money time” of regulation time, before having to make the difference on a “game winner” from LeBron James 27 seconds from the end, in the five bonus minutes. But the “Purple & Gold” ensured the essentials on the accounting level: a place in play-in and a success synonymous with shock against the neighbors of the Clippers in “back-to-back”.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Los Angeles battled. Ideally, the Lakers would have folded this match in two/three quarters, just to give rest to LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the “back-to-back” against the Clippers. Except that they probably took this meeting a little too lightly, given what they demonstrated defensively and at the end of the fourth quarter, to leave Utah in the game and then snatch overtime. Nevertheless, even jostled, the men of Darvin Ham held firm and did what was necessary to leave with victory. A good omen for the future, because you also have to know how to win on a more difficult day.
— Even diminished, Utah made its match. Certainly well helped by the lack of seriousness of the Lakers, the Jazz was not ridiculous either, far from it, when one could initially think of living a one-sided duel, given the various absentees on the Mormon side. But this team has resources and, in the wake of the surprisingly valiant Kelly Olynyk, Talen Horton-Tucker, Ochai Agbaji, Damian Jones or Collin Sexton, Will Hardy’s men never panicked, even when they were behind. ten points, to come within a whisker of affording the scalp of Los Angeles.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ The James/Reaves duo. This is an association that continues to seduce and which has constantly brought the Lakers what they needed in this game: points and baskets, at any time and especially in overtime. One (Austin Reaves) a little more discreetly than the other (LeBron James), but also more effectively. It was necessary to guide Los Angeles to a precious victory, in pain, while the “King” seriously reassures from a physical point of view. To the point of succeeding a “game winner” despite his 38 minutes on the clock…
✅ Utah. Kelly Olynyk of course, but also Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, Luka Samanic and Kris Dunn, not to mention ex-Lakers Talen Horton-Tucker and Damian Jones. The play-in may be moving away for the Jazz, Will Hardy can be frankly proud of his group which, cut off by several major players, has still found a way to push the irresistible Lakers to their limits in recent times. A formidable collective performance from this Mormon team, decidedly surprising until the end and which can consider more than serenely the continuation of its reconstruction.
⛔ Defenses. Clearly not a game where the defenders were at the party, because we quickly understood from the first possessions that it was going to look like a remake of the last All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, with a lot of points and little effort on the defensive plan. A lack of seriousness which almost cost the Lakers dearly in the second half, while the Jazz may regret not having been able to adjust the cursor upwards, instead of relying on the mistakes of their opponents. No doubt the absence of Walker Kessler played a role in this.
THE FOLLOWING
Utah (36-43) : reception of Oklahoma City, on the night of Thursday to Friday (03:00).
Los Angeles (41-38) : “back-to-back” against the Clippers, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday (04:00).
