Lakers overcome size disadvantage to end losing streak with win in Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. — As long as Anthony Davis is sidelined because of a foot injury, as long as a brutal winter schedule keeps pushing up against a weary team, the Lakers likely will have to settle for quick flashes of what their best case can look like.
Matched up against a taller, longer, younger and more athletic team in the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, the Lakers moved with precision and care, outmuscling and outsmarting their opponent in what turned out to be a fairly uneventful 129-110 victory that decisively ended a four-game losing streak.
The Lakers, facing size disadvantages at almost every position, played with toughness, force, determination and speed to give coach Darvin Ham a look at the type of team he wants this group to become.
“That’s what we have to be,” he said. “That has to be our identity. That’s what we’re striving for.”
LeBron James led the Lakers (14-20) with 28 points, two shy of scoring 30 or more in an eighth consecutive game. Thomas Bryant, again starting in Davis’ place, had his third double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook notched 15 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists.
The Lakers, playing with undersized centers and no Anthony Davis, have another tough defensive assignment Tuesday when facing Bol Bol and the Orlando Magic.
It was Westbrook’s third triple-double this season — all this month — coming off the bench. That’s an NBA record for a reserve in one season and ties him with Detlef Schrempf for the career record for a bench player.
“I’m a hooper,” Westbrook said when asked about his bench role. “I can do anything, anytime, anywhere. Whatever’s asked of me is what I’ll do, and I’ll continue doing that [until] further notice.”
Westbrook and the Lakers put an added emphasis on the glass against the super-sized Magic (13-22), who started the 7-foot-2 Bol Bol, 6-11 Moritz Wagner, 6-10 Paolo Banchero, 6-10 Franz Wagner and 6-4 Markelle Fultz. Orlando grabbed six offensive rebounds in the first quarter but just two the rest of the game.
Without Davis, the Lakers’ top rebounder, the responsibility falls to everyone.
“We all just have to play a little bit more and do a little bit more, and the responsibility goes on all of us. And Russ definitely picked it up,” James said. “I mean, obviously with the rebounding, we’re a team that lacks a lot of size, a lot of length, and we try to make it up just by being fundamentally sound and also being athletic. Kind of rebounding out of your own position. I think Russ has always done that in his career. He’s always rebounded outside of his size and his length. So, very key for us.”
Another key was the Lakers’ defense on Banchero, the front-runner for NBA rookie of the year. Guard Patrick Beverley received the defensive assignment and helped harass and annoy Banchero into a one-for-six shooting night and just four points.
“He’s been exceptional. Playing great ball,” James said of Banchero, a former Duke star who was the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft. “A three-level scorer so far in this league. In the paint, in the midrange and has been shooting the ball from the outside pretty well as well as of late. So, he’s only going to get better and better. Every game, he’ll get better and better. Every film session, he’ll get better and better. All these experiences are just really good for him on a game-to-game basis. They definitely got a really good one.”
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But Tuesday’s game was Banchero’s worst of the season.
“Number one pick my ass,” Beverley repeated from the bench in the fourth quarter.
Beverley had 14 points — his fourth game in double-figure scoring in his last six. In his first 21 games this season, Beverley did not score 10 points or more. Troy Brown Jr., who had been struggling on offense lately, scored 15 points off the bench to tie his season high.
“Let it fly, man. That’s the biggest thing: You’re open, you have to shoot it,” Ham said. “And I trust them, I have confidence in them. … Miss or make, you gotta be aggressive.”
The Lakers play the Heat in Miami on Wednesday night, James’ status undetermined for the second night of a back-to-back set.
“I’ll know tomorrow when I get up,” he said.
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