LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis had 40 factors and 15 rebounds, LeBron James added 31 factors and Los Angeles prolonged the Washington Wizards‘ dropping streak to 13 video games with a 134-131 victory Thursday night time.
James shifted the momentum completely within the Lakers’ favor early in additional time when the 21-year veteran adopted up his athletic block of Jordan Poole’s layup try by hitting a tying 3-pointer of his personal with 3:12 to play. James then received his ninth help on Davis’ dunk on the Lakers’ subsequent possession, placing the Lakers forward to remain.
James is now 9 factors shy of turning into the primary participant in NBA historical past to attain 40,000 after this grinding win for Los Angeles, which was already weary after rallying from a 21-point deficit within the fourth quarter to stun the Clippers on Wednesday night time.
“We needed to get some stops, and we needed to execute offensively,” James mentioned. “Not flip the ball over. It’s a tricky league, and after final night time’s victory, we needed to are available in in opposition to a younger, scrappy workforce that’s not enjoying for a lot, simply enjoying arduous, numerous velocity, numerous youth, and clearly it took us 53 minutes to get the job performed.”
Regardless of a perpetually balky ankle that compelled him to overlook two video games across the All-Star break, James returned to the court docket in opposition to Washington only a night time after his 19-point fourth quarter in opposition to the Clippers.
The 39-year-old James is all however sure to hit his 40,000-point milestone Saturday on nationwide tv in opposition to defending champion Denver.
D’Angelo Russell scored 22 factors for the Lakers, who by no means managed to tug away throughout their ninth victory in 12 video games. Los Angeles hasn’t been in a position to transfer increased than ninth within the Western Convention regardless of its spectacular February.
“We’re in a race proper now, and we’re repeatedly simply attempting to get higher, work on ourselves and get wholesome,” Davis mentioned. “And whereas doing it, staying within the battle, staying within the hunt.”
Poole scored a season-high 34 factors and Marvin Bagley III added a season-high 23 for the Wizards, who’re three losses shy of matching the longest skid in franchise historical past regardless of this encouraging effort in opposition to the Lakers.
Washington missed 5 straight photographs and made two turnovers down the stretch in additional time, going scoreless within the remaining 3:50.
“I believed it was nice,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe mentioned. “We talked about enjoying nearer to 48 minutes of basketball constantly, and I believed our guys performed 53 minutes tonight. We performed the entire recreation. … Our guys performed arduous, constant, shared the ball, did the issues we have been asking the entire recreation. Simply didn’t get the win.”
Former Lakers ahead Kyle Kuzma scored 20 factors, however missed a tying 3-point try with eight seconds left in additional time. Corey Kispert additionally had 20 factors for Washington.
The Wizards led for many of the first three quarters, and so they rallied from an eight-point deficit within the fourth. Washington led 126-124 with 43 seconds left in regulation after Poole drained his fifth 3-pointer of the night time, however Austin Reaves tied it for LA with a fadeaway jumper.
Poole missed a 31-footer on the regulation buzzer.
“I’m happy with our guys, only for the best way we a minimum of closed the sport,” Poole mentioned. “We fought. … Good look (to finish regulation). Look I needed. Just a bit bit off to the left. I’d shoot it once more.”
D’Angelo Russell scored 22 factors for the Lakers.
Wizards rookie Bilal Coulibaly missed his second straight recreation with a bruised proper pelvis, however Deni Avdija returned from a three-game absence with a bruised left heel.
Cam Reddish missed the second half for the Lakers after enjoying 4 minutes within the first half. He solely returned Wednesday from a five-week absence as a result of an ankle harm, and coach Darvin Ham mentioned he had soreness in his ankle.
UP NEXT
Wizards: At Clippers on Friday night time.
Lakers: Host Denver on Saturday night time.
