Darvin Ham can be proud of his shot. Deprived of LeBron James, injured in the ankle, the Lakers coach decided to inject newcomer Spencer Dinwiddie into his major five for the first time, alongside his former Nets teammate, D'Angelo Russell. Winning bet, because if the former Nets player was not a factor in attack, he signed the winning counter in front of Damian Lillard almost at the buzzer.
THE Lakers thus signed a sacred feat facing one of the fittest teams in the league since the All-Star Game, being deprived of the “King” and despite a diminished Anthony Davis at the end of the game. This victory, on the smallest of margins, they owe it to D'Angelo Russell.
Before this last attempt by the Bucks leader, it was he who signed the decisive basket, a “floater” having taken over the hesitant defensive coverage of the Damian Lillard – Brook Lopez tandem. Russell had previously scored the last six points for his team, still trailing by two possessions with two minutes remaining.
D'Angelo Russell takes over for Davis
The Californian leader was astonishingly skillful, scoring 21 of his 44 points in the final period. He took the game into his own hands while “AD” suffered, physically, in silence and Rui Hachimura suffered, in terms of skill. It was necessary at least that to counter the Bucks who did not take advantage of the size advantage they had throughout the evening.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has once again completed a colossal project underneath, scoring his 8th triple-double of the season. Although clumsy at 3-points, his pick-and-roll friend Damian Lillard also exceeded the mark of 25 points and 10 assists. The two men combined so well together in the final quarter, with the impeccable Pat Connaughton taking full advantage of the spaces generated by the Bucks' two best players.
But Doc Rivers' men, who conceded 40 points in the second quarter, never managed to take a lasting lead. On the contrary, trailing narrowly at the break (67-63), they had to work hard in the third quarter to stay in contact at the start of the fourth (96-90). They only regained the advantage three minutes from the end, finally thinking they could take cover. D'Angelo Russell decided otherwise.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A breathtaking finale. We advise you to take a look at the last three minutes of the match as both teams managed to respond in quick succession. Two minutes from the end, Damian Lillard signed a huge 3-point shot despite Russell's foul. This four-point action gave his team a six-point lead (112-118). Rui Hachimura then finally found the address, but Pat Connaughton answered him (115-120). Russell scored from 3-points, then Giannis signed an improbable “floater” after a “challenge” won by the Lakers. The referees canceled a foul called in favor of the Greek (probably author of a step on the action). The following ? Five points in a row for Russell and this famous counter from Dinwiddie in front of Lillard.
– Anthony Davis hit in the shoulder. We saw him seriously grimacing on the bench, at the start of the fourth quarter, while a member of the staff treated his left shoulder. Returning to the game, “AD”, visibly affected by contesting a penetration by Giannis, clearly gave the impression of playing with one arm, for example capturing a rebound with his right hand alone, to avoid mobilizing the other. And showing himself to be much less enterprising with the ball in hand: only one shot in the last quarter. We should know more in the coming hours about the seriousness of this injury.
– The Lakers in the positive without LeBron James. The Californians had already proven that they could win big matches without their king. After the example of Boston at the beginning of February, new demonstration this night. The Lakers now have a record of five wins and four losses without him.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
