The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 106: 94. The outstanding man was LeBron James, who unpacked several highlight blocks and a throwback performance.
Los Angeles Lakers (15-13) – Orlando Magic (5-23) 106:94 (BOXSCORE)
In the renewed absence of Anthony Davis (knee) there was even more burden on James, but he accepted this and carried his team impressively to victory. The King put on a triple-double (30, 12/20 FG, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) and blocked three throws in a spectacular way.
In addition to James, Russell Westbrook and Talen Horton-Tucker (plus 6 steals) were the Lakers’ best throwers with 19 points each, Westbrook also grabbed 7 rebounds and played 5 assists. Carmelo Anthony added another 15 points from the bench (3/5 threesome).
On the Magic side, Franz Wagner made a good game with 20 points (8/18) and 7 rebounds, but he also made four, sometimes very expensive, turnovers. The 20: 2 points after turnover from LA’s point of view also went to his account. The best scorer was Cole Anthony (21), who struggled with his throw (6/18). Moritz Wagner was not used, Wendell Carter Jr. contributed another 16 points and caused a curiosity with his glasses.
NBA: Lakers without LeBron James without ideas
At the start, the Lakers pulled away with a small 7-0 run and held the Magic for the first 2:53 minutes without points before Wagner hit a three from the corner. That seemed to give his team wings, because they started a 19: 4 run and were +9 in the front.
While the Magic worked out many second chances on the board (5 offensive rebounds in the first quarter), the Lakers offensive seemed unimaginative without LeBron on the field. Westbrook in particular often seemed hectic and tried to refuel with his head down on his way into the zone, where there was little space against the long Mo Bamba and Robin Lopez.
The second quarter started again with James on the field and the team looked like a different one. They forced some stops on the defensive (Monster block from LeBron included!) and in the person of LBJ drove the ball purposefully to the other side, which led to quick points and a 14: 6 run to the next change in leadership. With 54:48 Magic it finally went into halftime.
NBA: Lakers with a phenomenal third quarter
After the King had put all of his threes (0/3) on the ring in the first half, he started the third quarter with back-to-back threesomes and an and-one for a quick 9 points in two minutes, which the Lakers won took back the lead. Horton-Tucker’s threesome to the highest Lakers lead to date (69:56) forced Magic coach Jamahl Mosley to an early timeout.
But that didn’t take the wind out of the Lakers’ sails. A few minutes and a 17-0 run later, the home team were suddenly +16 in the front after a three-pointer from Avery Bradley. And so it went on. The Magic didn’t hit a flowerpot and made hair-raising turnovers, LeBron unpacked two more monster blocks and played face-off ball on the other side, DeAndre Jordan gave Robin Lopez a bad poster and only two free throws from Terrence Ross stopped a 23-0- Run (!) Of the Lakers – by far the longest LA run of the season.
With the 10:36 quarter and a 23-point deficit from Magic’s point of view, it finally went into the last section of the game, in which everything seemed decided. But led by 7 Wagner points, Orlando shortened again with 4 minutes to -10, because the Lakers defense was suddenly completely out of the wind. But it didn’t get any tighter with LeBron and Co. on the field.
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