Perhaps the Los Angeles Lakers took a lesson from their unexpected defeat to Brooklyn the previous two nights. On Sunday, it really seemed like it.
Against the Portland Trail Blazers, another bad club, the Lakers jumped out to a double-digit lead and held on for a 134-110 win at Crypto.com Arena.
LA has D’Angelo Russell, the point guard, to thank.
Russell’s 34 points and eight assists to even the Lakers’ record at 22-22, continuing a wild run. He made six of eleven three-pointers, demonstrating his exceptional effectiveness from distance.
After a lackluster December, Russell lost his starting position, but he was added back into the starting lineup the following weekend against Utah. He answered with 39 points that evening and hasn’t stopped since, averaging 27.2 points, 6.4 assists, and a 54% three-point shooting percentage.
In addition to his six three-pointers, Russell had two outstanding fastbreak moves against Portland.
He tricked Malcolm Brogdon by faking a behind-the-back pass to LeBron James halfway through the fourth quarter, which let Russell dribble unopposed for a simple layup. When Russell bounced the ball off the floor earlier in the game, James was able to catch it in the air and slam it even though Russell was significantly ahead of James.
“Merely enjoying myself,” Russell said to Spectrum SportsNet. That’s what we all hoped to do. Rewinding to your childhood means practicing movements and trying things out in your garden. Never imagined you’d have the opportunity to accomplish it in reality. I never imagined that I could hit LeBron James with a bounce-pass lob during a game. That kind of thing simply keeps you youthful and interested in the game.
With the NBA deadline coming up on February 8, Russell was the subject of trade speculations throughout his slump. For his part, he said that having missed a week earlier this month due to a damaged tailbone gave him more perspective.
He shouted, “Just attack, attack, attack.” “I’m trying to figure out how to just keep maximizing and being myself since when I was out, I got to see what I was missing and where I was missing.”
Russell’s recent run was recognized by James, who scored 28 points in the game against Portland.
“Just trying to get his shot, being aggressive. Particularly at this time of upheaval, we’re still looking for him,” James said. “Right now, he’s simply firing at a high pace. It is unquestionably excellent for our offensive.
On Sunday, the Lakers scored 35 fastbreak points, a season best, while Portland managed only eight.
The story of the game was completely different from Friday’s, when the Lakers led Brooklyn by 12 points in the first half yet nonetheless lost by 18.
Anthony Davis, the center for the Lakers, likely didn’t care despite his comparatively quiet 14 points and 14 rebounds against Portland. Ultimately, the Lakers emerged victorious, and he took a whole quarter off.
Malcolm Brogdon led the Trail Blazers, who dropped to 12-30, with 23 points and nine assists.
During a brief period of limited travel this month, the Lakers improved to 5-4 at home. Even if it’s not the record they had in mind, they will now take home every victory. They play the Clippers, a rival team in the city, on Tuesday.
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