In recent weeks, since they lost Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura to injury (although the latter returned a few days ago), the Lakers had gone into a tailspin with one win in six games. They lived and died by what Doncic and LeBron were capable of doing and if one of them was missing, as the night before against the Blazers (116-132), not even that. They needed a win like eating and they got it against the Raptors (110-93).
It was not easy as until the last quarter they did not enjoy a double-digit lead on the scoreboard (91-80 with two baskets from LeBron) and, as usual, they achieved it with the defensive effort of their two stars. Luka Doncic, who had rested the day before against Portland, scored 18 points in the first half and finished with 25 (3/11 t2, 5/12 t3 and 4/5 tl), 2 rebounds, 7 assists, one steal and one block. And although he lost four balls, his offensive drive was remarkable.
No rest for veteran LeBron James
Also that of LeBron James, very efficient in the second time this season that he played two games on consecutive nights. His team is not in a position for the veteran to rest much, as he scored 24 points /7/13 t2, 2/4 t3 and 4/4 tl), 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks. Like Doncic, his turnovers (3) were a manageable blemish.
But this time the difference for the Los Angeles team was made by their giant, Deandre Ayton, who was not present the night before against the Blazers due to knee problems and returned to dominate the interior with great authority and superlative efficiency
Deandre Ayton, following in the footsteps of Chamberlain and Shaquille
The 2.13m Bahamian center was impressive with 25 points (10/10 2-pointers and 5/6 free throws), 13 rebounds, one assist and one block to become the fourth player in the Los Angeles franchise’s history to record at least 20 points and 10 rebounds with 100% shooting, something that only Wilt Chamberlain (twice), Mitch Kupchak (1981) and Shaquille O’Neal (2003) had achieved.
Doncic’s 12th technical foul this season
It was a night when Luka Doncic received his 12th technical foul of the season during the first half for arguing a refereeing decision. It is the second most in the NBA, only surpassed by Dillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns. The Slovenian has many virtues, but patience is not one of them.
With his constant protests, he has earned the dubious honor of being one of the NBA’s great whiners. It is true that his defenders hit him a lot and are not always sanctioned, but it is also true that his tolerance to these blows is decreasing and that, not infrequently, ends up driving him out of his mind, distracting him from the game.
Barnes and Ingram are not enough for the Raptors
In the Raptors, who suffered their second consecutive defeat, the contribution of Scottie Barnes (22+9+3), Brandon Ingram (19+6+7) and Georgian substitute Sandro Mamukelashvili (20+6+2) was not enough. Toronto still remains fourth in the East (25-19), while the Lakers are sixth in the West (25-16) before embarking on a tough eight-game road trip away from Los Angeles that will test what this team is made of.
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