LeBron James returned to the court with a standout performance, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 134-127 victory over the Grizzlies. James scored 25 points, his most since returning from a two-week absence due to a strained left groin. He had eight assists and six rebounds. The win allowed the Lakers to move closer to solidifying their 4th place standing in the Western Conference playoff standings.
The Lakers had themselves quite a shooting exhibition! They shot 50.6% from the floor overall and 44.2% from deep. The team successfully sank 19-of-43 three-pointers, with contributions from both starters and bench players. The depth and versatility of the Lakers’ roster were on display, as bench players made up seven of these three-pointers.
James acknowledged the overall performance of his teammates with a big salute. Not to be forgotten, Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith played huge roles and made huge impacts on the game. Vincent had it going, shooting four of six from deep! Meanwhile, Finney-Smith was three of seven, stretching the floor and giving the Mavs another weapon on offense.
Austin Reaves was the game’s top scorer, contributing 31 points on 8-of-16 shooting, 5-of-8 from behind the arc. His incredible combination of genius with Luka Doncic and the King, LeBron James, combined to score a historic 120 total geniuses.
“It was the first time I’ve heard him yell in a while,” – Reaves
“It was refreshing, to be honest. I loved it.” – Reaves
Head coach J.J. Redick praised James for his vocal leadership during a crucial timeout, which he believes was instrumental in the team’s victory.
“And it was early. It was throughout the game. When we got down, I challenged the group in a timeout and he was as vocal as he’s been since he got back from injury. And that galvanized the group…. I think if he doesn’t say what he said in the timeout, we probably don’t win the game.” – Redick
“We challenged all three of them when we get to their three-man actions to play with a little more force and a little more thrust and a little more creativity.” – Redick
The Lakers now face a three-game homestand against Houston, Golden State, and New Orleans, followed by a stretch of eight consecutive games against Western Conference opponents. This provides the group with an opportunity to solidify their status atop the conference. Perhaps more important, they can gain momentum as they push toward the season.
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