Some will speak of a curse, others of bad luck. What is certain, however, is that the body of Anthony Davis is determined not to leave him alone this season. This time, it’s his ankle that has turned badly and worries the entire Californian franchise, as well as its fans.
However, even without “AD” throughout the second period, the Lakers managed to return to victory, against the Jazz (106-101), after three defeats in a row. And, thanks to a fiery fourth quarter (35-22) offered by LeBron James’ teammates (33 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, with 15 units in the last act).
On the Salt Lake City side, Donovan Mitchell (37 points, 5 assists, 4 steals) was nevertheless immense for 36 minutes but, like his entire team, he will have collapsed at the finish, leaving the series of six victories of Utah’s streak coming to an end just before All-Star Weekend.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— LeBron James’ royal finish. Under the eyes of Aaron Donald, recently titled with the Rams in the NFL, the “King” honored his status, assuming his responsibilities in the last act to guide the Lakers to victory. Timid for three quarters, the 37-year-old winger upped the ante in the fourth, lining up paint and 3-point hits, as well as good lags (for Austin Reaves’ dagger, notably ), in order to end this period with 15 points. A boss’s end to the game for “LBJ”, when we saw him quite upset after Anthony Davis’ new injury, before the break.
— Anthony Davis’ injury. What a cursed season for the Lakers, who once again lost their star interior. While he succeeded in a construction site under the panels (17 points in 17 minutes, 7/9 on shots), “AD” thus badly twisted his right ankle, after a bad recovery of support. He then immediately writhed in pain on the ground, before returning to the locker room with the help of his teammates, unable to put his ankle on the ground. In any case, the MRI revealed nothing more than a sprain, the severity of which will need to be known. Anthony Davis will therefore be reassessed in a week, after a short period of rest…
— Donovan Mitchell struggled…then passed away. If the matches lasted 36 minutes, “Spida” would undoubtedly have been the man of the evening. Except that they last 48 minutes and that the last quarter of the back of the Jazz was the opposite of his first three, between failures in shooting and inaccuracies in the management of the ball. Before that, however, he had been immense for Utah, torturing his defenders with award-winning baskets, in the paint and at mid-range, both on set play and on the counterattack. Aggressive, he also scouted the points at the throws… until the light went out, at the end of the game.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ The fighting spirit of Los Angeles. We did not give much of the skin of the Lakers when they found themselves at -14, in the middle of the third quarter. They have also collapsed more than once in such conditions this season. Except that nothing happened last night. Visibly eager to leave with the victory, for Anthony Davis and to conclude in style a day of festivities in Los Angeles (parade of the Rams obliges), the “Purple & Gold” thus united collectively, in the wake of LeBron James and Russell Westbrook. In order to seek success with forceps and to overthrow, above all, a team that was fueling.
⛔ Utah’s “money-time”. Still comfortably in the lead 6 minutes 30 from the end (92-80), the Jazz then began to stammer their basketball. Once is not custom, it is against the “small ball” of a team of Los Angeles that the men of Quin Snyder lost foot. Installed at the pivot position in the absence of Anthony Davis, LeBron James took pleasure in dominating opposing defenders, along with Russell Westbrook, when Rudy Gobert returned to the floor. Domination which resulted in a terrible “run” of… 20-4, in favor of the “Purple & Gold”! A real collapse, therefore, on the Mormon side.
LEBRON JAMES EQUALS ELGIN BAYLOR
The records, it knows him. But dusting off a 60-year-old, in one of the franchises where it’s arguably the most difficult to achieve, is unmistakably LeBron James.
Because, by succeeding in a 23rd consecutive game with at least 25 points scored, the “King” has effectively offered itself the luxury of equaling the illustrious Elgin Baylor (1961), for the longest series of meetings in in a row with 25+ points, in a single season, at the Lakers!
As you will have understood, even Kobe Bryant has never managed 23 games in a row with a minimum of 25 points, with the “Purple & Gold”. Proof of the madness of the prowess achieved by the 37-year-old winger. And LeBron James will therefore have the possibility of putting the legend of Los Angeles in his rear view mirror, within a week… Just that.
THE FOLLOWING
Los Angeles (27-31) : return to play in a week, for a derby against the Clippers, after the All-Star Weekend.
Utah (36-22) : return to play in a week, against Dallas, after the All-Star Weekend.
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