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We would have thought that this displacement of the Lakers to Charlotte was going to be only a formality, all the more after the canon departure of the Californians (12-33 after having succeeded 12 shots in a row) then the ankle injury Lamelo Ball. It was nothing! The Lakers had to fight to ensure the essentials despite the furious return of the Hornets, and LeBron James as Anthony Davis were decisive.
After seeing his team take the entrance water, Josh Okogie finally launched the locals' match with two 3-point baskets, but still remained at +20 after 12 minutes (19-39), in particular thanks to a Anthony Davis Unplayable (21 points and 11 rebounds in the first quarter!). It was therefore in the second quarter that the Hornets resumed hope by passing an 8-0 then a 9-2 marked by the two 3-point baskets from Lamelo Ball before its release, and the Dunks of Moussa Diabaté and Miles Bridges (39-51). Josh Green confirmed Charlotte's strength before the break by placing two distant arrows in turn, bringing his family to -8 (51-59).
Lakers' area defense sequences were not enough from Charles Lee's men again on the return from the locker room. LeBron James and Anthony Davis even had to work to maintain the gap. We were indeed very far from the health walk! Miles Bridge and Vasilije micic kept the pressure until the Okogie-Wong doublet did not make a 3-point fly, forcing LeBron James to answer with a 2+1.
But Charlotte had not said her last word, and attacked the fourth quarter by a 6-0, the work of Mark Williams, Isaiah Wong and the unstoppable Josh Okogie to completely relaunch the end of the match (84- 86)! The Lakers then knew how to react at the right time, relying again and again on a LeBron James Imperial. The “King” has chained a basket, two assists for Jaxson Hayes and a franc launch to restore air to the “Purple & Gold” (88-94). With the dunks of Jarred Vanderbilt in counterattack and Anthony Davis, it is then 3+1 of Max Christie, served in the corner by LBJ, which definitively released the Lakers (91-104).
In bosses, LeBron James and Anthony Davis scored two more baskets until the last Tomar of Dorian Finney-Smith to ensure the victory, the tenth in a row outside for the Californians (107-112).
What to remember
– Anthony Davis and Lebron James had to put the heating blue. Anthony Davis set the tone by starting 9/12 in shooting for 21 points and 11 rebounds in the first quarter. LeBron James also had to give his person, especially in the fourth quarter when Charlotte returned to -2, and the tandem also had to work in the third quarter. The concern is that it was not enough to move away from the aggressive Hornets to the end, forcing the two players to stay on the field for 37 minutes.
) Record evening for Anthony Davis. After his departure canon, Anthony Davis remained hot until the end and was even precious at the very end of the match by putting the two throws that put an end to the opposing hopes. It is simply his best match of the season at points (42, at 17/28 in shooting) and the rebounds (23).
– Lamelo is still Lacheville. It is unfortunately an image that we do not like to see but to which we have used, Lamelo Ball on the ground after an ankle injury. During the second quarter, Lamelo Ball supported the heel on the foot of Jarred Vanderbilt and twisted the left ankle. The verdict was quickly confirmed and his return to the locker room was synonymous with the end of the evening for him.
How to read the stats? Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; O = offensive rebound; D = defensive rebound; T = total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; +/- = Differential points when the player is on the field; Pts = points; EVAL: evaluation of the player calculated from positive actions – negative actions.