The Lakers have exacted their revenge after the loss to the Bulls in Los Angeles last weekend. The Californian team prevailed on their visit to the United Center 110-121 thanks to a sensational Anthony Davis, who took his team on his back to lead them to a fundamental victory. Darvin Ham’s team has returned thanks to her to a balanced record of 38 wins and 38 losses, which places them in eighth position in the West and leaves them 1.5 games ahead of the Mavericks, the first team that would fall out of the play-in.
Davis, with 38 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals, signed a most complete performance that made him dominate from start to finish and lead his team during the second half. In it, 22 of his goals came and the Angelenos reached 18 up, an advantage that was never reduced excessively and allowed them to enjoy a relatively calm closing. The center has had undeniable ups and downs throughout this stretch, but there is no doubt that if he is good, the Lakers are good.
“I think we have everything we need,” La Ceja commented. «Now the question is to go out on the track and prove it. I think we can definitely go far, because we have all the pieces for it.”
Despite the little contribution from the men on the bench (14 points with a 5/22 shooting), the rest of the starters accompanied AD perfectly and showed off the team’s resources. LeBron James, with 25 points, was second in scoring, but he was closely followed by both Austin Reaves, who reached 19 after missing just one of his eight shots, and D’Angelo Russell, who finished with 17 and managed to score. His minutes on the track ended with a partial of +35. The one from Akron was also optimistic in his statements, making clear his confidence in the options of this squad.
“I think the most important thing is that we have several guys who can handle the ball well,” said the forward. “This way, no one has to feel the pressure to organize and create the plays on every possession. In addition, we have shooters in the quintet and we have a lot of size.
All these virtues hurt some Bulls who had no options to tighten the duel in the second half. The locals were commanded by the 29 points and 12 rebounds that Nikola Vucevic, who added a lot in the paint but could not prevent Davis from doing the same on the other side and could not transform his good numbers into victory. DeMar DeRozan, with 22 points, was second in that matter, while Coby White and Zach LaVine added 17 and 16 respectively.
This defeat leaves Chicago with a 36-40 balance that places them in 10th place in the East, in which, two games apart from both 9th and 11th, it seems that they will finish the course. They still have time to look for one last push that will allow them to improve their way into the play-in, but everything points to the fact that if they want to be in the playoffs for the title, they will have to win two away games.
(Cover photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
