The Lakers cruised past Washington on Friday with a 111-142 victory over the Wizards, boosted by 37 points and a triple-double from Luka Doncic and a dunking display from LeBron James that lit up Capital One Arena.
The Lakers arrived in the nation’s capital after losing Wednesday in Cleveland, in a very special game for James, who was moved to tears as he was honored by the fans who were once his own and then spoke about the possibility that it might have been the last time he played in his native Ohio.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me. I’m just trying to live in the moment and not take anything for granted; I’m trying to be present,” James said in a press conference in which he reflected for 15 minutes on his future and the possibility of retiring at the end of the season.
“Obviously, at 41 years of age the question comes up more often and that thought creeps into my head more. I’m in a battle with Father Time, and I’m taking it personally. I’m going to see how many more times I can come out victorious against him,” he added.
Strolling in Washington
The Lakers are in the final stretch of an 8-game tour in 15 days, with a 4-2 record after the first six games.
The game in Washington was a stroll for the Angelenos, who wasted no time in putting ground between themselves and the Wizards, having fun as if the young Washington players were merely entertainment for them.
Doncic, with no trace of the discomfort that had put him in doubt after a fall on the elevated court in Cleveland, closed the first quarter with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, an anticipation of the recital he signed at the Capital One Arena.
But it wasn’t just Doncic. James pulled out his best tricks, perhaps for the last time in Washington.
In the second quarter, he threw down an impressive one-handed dunk after an ‘alley-oop’ from Deandre Ayton. In the third, he again wowed the crowd with a backhanded dunk after an ‘alley-oop’ from Marcus Smart.
The Lakers went into the break with a 48-77 scoreline, with Doncic in triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
There was no game in Washington, with no sign of the Wizards, who had competed and won their last two games against the Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers, their first victories since they traded CJ McCollum.
In the third quarter, the Lakers went on a +38 run in what was shaping up to be an epic thrashing, but after amassing that lead they relaxed and allowed the Wizards to pull within 84-108.
The last quarter was simply a formality, in which the Lakers regained control and JJ Redick gave minutes to Bronny James, who followed in his father’s footsteps with a great dunk and finished with four points.
Doncic scored 37 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists, without playing a single minute in the last quarter. LeBron James finished with 20 points, while Deandre Ayton contributed a double-double, with 28 points and 13 rebounds.
The Lakers shot 61.2% from the field (52 of 85) and outrebounded the Wizards (55 to 44), assists (38 to 28) and steals (17 to 10).
For the Wizards, Malaki Branham finished with 17 points, while Alex Sarr had 16.
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