LeBron James, nearing his 39th birthday, showcased his enduring talent with 17 points and 11 assists, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a commanding 133-112 win over the Charlotte Hornets during Thursday’s NBA action, who suffered their ninth consecutive loss.
Anthony Davis contributed 26 points and eight rebounds in a game that marked just the third Lakers’ win since their triumph in the NBA’s In-Season Tournament three weeks ago. The Lakers pulled away from the Hornets with a remarkable 41-point third quarter, featuring stellar performances from Rui Hachimura and James.
The Lakers established a significant 28-point lead early in the fourth quarter, allowing coach Darvin Ham to rest James and Davis for the entire final quarter. Davis emphasized the importance of conserving energy, especially considering their upcoming back-to-back games against Minnesota and New Orleans.
“Guys were playing for each other, playing the right way,” Davis said. “Anytime I’m able to bank some minutes, especially going into a tough back-to-back in Minnesota and New Orleans, it helps us as a team.”
James, now in his 21st NBA season, continues to defy age, orchestrating the offense and leading the crucial third-quarter surge. His performance, coupled with a season-high 41 assists by the Lakers, was lauded by Davis, who praised James’s game-reading abilities.
“It’s always good things that happen when the ball is in his hands,” Davis said. “He makes great reads. He’s a student of the game. He’s seen every coverage and made a lot of great reads throughout his career, so every time we can get the ball in his hands, it’s good for us.”
D’Angelo Russell scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers, one of which was the 1,300th of his career. Austin Reaves, who contributed 16 points, highlighted the team’s potential once they fully realized their identity.
“I believe that every time we step on the court, we can beat anybody we play,” Reaves said. “But just really figuring out what our identity is, in my opinion, the main thing, because we can be so good when we figure that out.”
The Hornets, led by Miles Bridges with 20 points and Terry Rozier with 18, couldn’t sustain their competitive start against the Lakers’ zone defense in the second half. Rookie Brandon Miller added 17 points but lamented the team’s defensive lapses.
“If we’d just guard without fouling, I think we’d be good,” Miller said. “Being in the right places, I think that was the important part tonight. I feel like I messed up on a few possessions.”
Charlotte, already missing LaMelo Ball and other key players due to injuries, faces a challenging six-game road trip against top Western Conference teams. Coach Steve Clifford acknowledged the difficulty posed by the injuries and the demanding schedule.
“Our guys have worked hard, (but) they know we’re short-handed,” Clifford said. “This is a tough trip. A lot of times in this league, it’s not just how many injuries you have, but when they come.
“Unfortunately for us, we’ve had more than our share of injuries, and this is not the time to be short-handed. But we played 41 good minutes the other night (against the Clippers). We were right there,” Clifford explained. “We played about 21 1/2 good minutes tonight. We’ve just got to defend.”
For the Lakers, Hachimura started in place of the injured Cam Reddish and, alongside James and Davis, played a crucial role in the team’s second-half surge. The Lakers have had to experiment with various starting lineups, starkly contrasting last season’s frequent changes due to injuries.
Looking ahead, the Hornets will face the Phoenix Suns, while the Lakers are set for a road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
