The bumps right now are severe – a win over the Clippers, like LeBron James predicted, not fixing all their problems. Anthony Davis, playing some of the best basketball of his Lakers’ career, scored 41 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter, to help the Lakers hang on against Toronto for a 132-131 win. Against Toronto, who was missing starting center Jakob Poetl, the Lakers quickly fed Davis on the interior. And on the flip side, the smaller Raptors spread the Lakers all over the court, using quickness to slice into the lane and actually win the points-in-the-paint battle. The Lakers, with seven players in double figures including 25 combined off the bench from Christian Wood and D’Angelo Russell, scored enough to stay alongside Toronto.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 10, 2024 06:59 UTC