Well, lookie here.
The Lakers are now one game under .500 at 33-34 after they defeated the Toronto Raptors, 122-112.
It was a little scary at first, though. The Raptors got off to a quick 25-10 start before the Lakers settled down as the returning D’Angelo Russell and the bench brought them back. Jarred Vanderbilt would also contribute mightily as he made a couple of big three-pointers. And we know he’s not a three-point shooter to begin with. A 9-0 run near the end of the half was led by Russell and Rui Hachimura. Lakers led, 70-62, at the half.
But then O.G. Anunoby seemingly couldn’t miss. He made his first 11 shots and was a huge catalyst to the Raptors’ 27-5 run. The Raptors’ length bothered the Lakers early and L.A.’s turnover count was getting higher pretty quickly. Still, with Anthony Davis having a really quiet game, the bench did their thing again and cut the Raptors deficit to 90-85 coming into the fourth.
For the Raptors, though, winter couldn’t be over fast enough for them. Austin Reaves had some ice cold moves to start the fourth. And then Dennis Schröder and D’Angelo Russell carried the Lakers to the finish line. D’Angelo, in particular, was making three after three, and before we knew it, his veins got icy to the tune of 16 points in the fourth quarter. Finally, Anthony Davis closed it with a long jumper to put the Lakers up 12 with under a minute to go. The Lakers have won three straight.
What a huge return for D’Angelo Russell. He scored 28 points and set the table with 9 assists. Dennis Schröder also laid the plates and utensils out and fed his teammates with 7 assists of his own. Dennis scored 23 points. Austin Reaves had 18 while Rui Hachimura (who we really should give credit for keeping the Lakers in the game) and Jarred Vanderbilt each had 16 points.
Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 32 points while O.G. Anunoby only missed 2 of his 14 shots on the way to 31 points (he also had 5 steals). While they outscored the Lakers in the third, 28-15, they were beaten badly in the fourth, 37-22. Pascal Siakam (12 points) and Fred VanVleet (8 points) had some quiet games, though.
The Lakers could’ve been done in with their 20 turnovers but they played great defense in the last quarter to stay in (and eventually win) the game. The Lakers moved the ball around with 29 assists compared to Toronto’s 14. But a huge key? L.A. made all 19 of their foul shots; Toronto was 10 for 13 (.769).
The Lakers have been doing this without LeBron James. And even more impressive? They did this without a strong game from Anthony Davis (only 8 points!). Having Russell gives them an extra playmaker and some additional offense. And they seem much deeper now than they were earlier in the season; Lonnie Walker IV was starting for them and now he’s the odd man out. The Lakers have an incredible all-around defender in Vanderbilt. Rui Hachimura has been getting it done on both ends. Malik Beasley could shoot better but, at least, he gives the team some spacing.
They’ve gone from laughingstock to questions of, “Wait. Is this team actually legit now?” They’re 8-3 since the new guys started playing for them. If they keep doing this in the next few games, the answer to that question could be an emphatic yes.
And that is trouble for the rest of the Western Conference.
