On Friday, Anthony Davis was the star player for the Los Angeles Lakers as they triumphed over the Philadelphia 76ers with a 101-94 win. Davis showcased his skills with 23 points, 19 rebounds, and four blocked shots, leading his team to victory.
LeBron James had an impressive game, contributing 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. His clutch three-pointer with just over two minutes left helped the Lakers secure a 96-87 lead over their opponents. D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Austin Reaves all chipped in with 14 points each, while Spencer Dinwiddie added 11 points to the scoreboard. This victory marked the Lakers’ second consecutive win, improving their record to 38-32.
On the other side, Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 27 points, followed by Kelly Oubre Jr. with 19 points. Tobias Harris had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Mo Bamba added 11 points to the team’s total. Philadelphia struggled from beyond the arc, only making 21.6 percent of their 3-point attempts, resulting in their second loss of their four-game road trip out West.
The game was tight, with Maxey making a crucial three-point play to tie the score at 79 with just over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. However, LeBron James responded with a three-pointer to give the Lakers a lead of 82-79 with 40 seconds left on the clock. Anthony Davis contributed with a dunk with 5:37 remaining to extend the Lakers’ lead to 88-83. Davis then made a three-point play with 3:20 left, pushing the Lakers further ahead with a score of 93-87.
Russell set a new milestone for the Lakers by breaking the single-season record for 3-pointers made in the first quarter. Throughout the night, Russell made 4 of 10 shots from beyond the arc, bringing his total to 187 three-pointers in the 2023-24 season. This achievement surpassed Nick Van Exel’s previous record of 183 set back in the 1994-1995 season.
The Sixers were behind in the game until Harris stepped up and scored five straight points to even the score at 43 with 3:05 left in the second quarter. Russell then made a crucial 3-pointer from the wing at 2:35, giving the Lakers a 46-43 lead. Going into halftime, the Sixers were ahead 52-50 thanks to Oubre’s 13 points and Harris’ 12 points. Meanwhile, Hachimura led the Lakers with 13 points before the half.
Bamba nailed a three-pointer at the 6:27 mark of the third quarter, giving the Sixers a 65-59 lead. Davis responded with a jump hook in the lane at the 3:50 mark, putting the Lakers ahead 67-66. The third quarter ended with Philadelphia holding a slim 76-75 lead.