LA Lakers (USA)

After a clear defeat once morest Minnesota (107-83), the Los Angeles Lakers got back in the right direction. Sunday, they won once morest the San Antonio Spurs (114-106), without LeBron James, still affected in the abdominals. In his absence, Anthony Davis carried the Lakers (34 points, 15 rebounds).

Los Angeles led most of the way, usually by a comfortable margin. But the Californian franchise got scared when San Antonio came back to 105-103 with 2’41” remaining in the game. Talen Horton-Tucker, Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook, however, allowed LA to escape once more and conclude.

Besides Davis, the Lakers were able to count on Horton-Tucker (17 points), Malik Monk (16 pts), Carmelo Anthony (15), Wayne Ellington (15) and Russell Westbrook (14).

We had not seen LeBron James on an NBA floor since March 20 and a game lost by the Lakers once morest Atlanta. The LA star suffered a sprained right ankle and missed his team’s last 20 games. But James finally made his comeback on Friday at home once morest the Sacramento Kings. And, if the Lakers lost (110-106), gave him a good copy, with 16 points (6/12 shooting), 8 rebounds and 7 assists, in 32 minutes of play.

Yet deprived of De’Aaron Fox (Covid-19 protocol) and Harrison Barnes (affected by an adductor), the Kings won on the Lakers’ field for the first time in three years. They entered the match very well (30-15, 11th). But LA patiently regained control, leading by one point at the break (56-55), then by 10 following the third quarter (88-78).

The Sacramento Kings, led by Tyrese Haliburton (23 points, 10 assists) and Richaun Holmes (22 points, 9 rebounds), finally came back to score five minutes from the buzzer (96-96), before leveling off with the Lakers. LeBron James struggled in the final moments of the match, losing two balls and missing a three-point shot 2.7 seconds from the end. Sacramento finally secured their victory, on two free throws scored by Haliburton.

Los Angeles lost for the second consecutive time, following losing once morest Washington (116-107) on Wednesday. LA therefore remains under threat of going through the play-offs in the next play-offs, with nine games left to play. The Lakers will try to redeem themselves in their next outing, Sunday once morest Toronto.

The Los Angeles Lakers had not won since February 16 and a success over Utah, and remained on four consecutive losses, including two slaps once morest New Orleans and the LA Clippers. But, on Saturday, the Lakers finally woke up, and with style. They won at home once morest the Golden State Warriors (124-116), second in the Western Conference, carried by a fantastic LeBron James (56 points).

The LA and NBA star made 19 of 31 shots (with a 6/11 three-pointer) and made 12 of 13 free throws. He also completed his stat sheet with 10 rebounds, three assists and a versus. At 37, James signed his best performance of the season and finished five points off his personal best (61 pts scored in March 2014).

James chained 3-point shots late in the game

Five years ago, the late Kobe Bryant had scored 61 points at 37, for his last game in the colors of the legendary Californian franchise. LeBron James is finally on the continuity of his very good season. He is a formidable skill with 51.9% shooting success and his average points (28.8) is the highest since the 2007-2008 season.

Despite the stratospheric form of their star player, the Los Angeles Lakers had to fight to overcome Golden State. Authors of a good start (25-11, 8th), they then ran behind the score (46-60, 21st). And, at the start of the last quarter, LA was still five points behind (89-94, 36th). The Lakers finally took the lead four minutes later (100-97).

One followed hand to hand between the two California franchises. James slammed three three-point shots then served Carmelo Anthony, who also scored behind the arc to finally put Los Angeles away (122-116), 34”3 from the buzzer. Two free throws from “King James” then completed the success of LA.

Westbrook and Anthony also decisive

In addition to the prodigious performance of their star, the Lakers were also able to count on Russell Westbrook, author of 20 points (9/17 shooting including 1/3 from three points), four rebounds and four assists, and Anthony (14 points, eight rebounds in 25 minutes). On the side of Golden State, Stephen Curry scored 30 points (13/22 in shooting including 4/9 from three points) and Jordan Poole, who was on the bench at the start of the match, scored 23 in 32 minutes. of game.

After their victory, the Los Angeles Lakers remain ninth in the Western Conference, far enough from the Clippers, eighth (six wins apart). They will try to continue their momentum on Monday at the San Antonio Spurs. Golden State, which now has four straight losses, will play Denver on the same day.