Los Angeles Lakers ahead Anthony Davis dunks through the first half of an NBA basketball recreation towards the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Picture/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis had 40 factors and 15 rebounds, LeBron James added 31 factors and Los Angeles prolonged the Washington Wizards’ dropping streak to 13 video games with a 134-131 victory within the NBA Thursday night time.
James shifted the momentum completely within the Lakers’ favor early in additional time when the 21-year veteran adopted up his athletic block of Jordan Poole’s layup try by hitting a tying 3-pointer of his personal with 3:12 to play. James then obtained his ninth help on Davis’ dunk on the Lakers’ subsequent possession, placing the Lakers forward to remain.
James is now 9 factors shy of turning into the primary participant in NBA historical past to attain 40,000 after this grinding win for Los Angeles, which was already weary after rallying from a 21-point deficit within the fourth quarter to stun the Clippers on Wednesday night time.
READ: NBA: LeBron leads epic Lakers fightback to beat Clippers
LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been a dynamic duo within the Lakers’ OT win over the Wizards!
AD: 40 PTS, 15 REB, 3 BLK
LBJ: 31 PTS, 9 AST, 4 REB pic.twitter.com/zReP1UU584— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2024
“We needed to get some stops, and we needed to execute offensively,” James stated. “Not flip the ball over. It’s a troublesome league, and after final night time’s victory, we needed to are available in towards a younger, scrappy staff that’s not taking part in for a lot, simply taking part in exhausting, lots of velocity, lots of youth, and clearly it took us 53 minutes to get the job completed.”
Regardless of a perpetually balky ankle that compelled him to overlook two video games across the All-Star break, James returned to the court docket towards Washington only a night time after his 19-point fourth quarter towards the Clippers.
The 39-year-old James is all however sure to hit his 40,000-point milestone Saturday on nationwide tv towards defending champion Denver.
READ: LeBron James desires to retire a Laker however has no NBA exit timetable
D’Angelo Russell scored 22 factors for the Lakers, who by no means managed to drag away throughout their ninth victory in 12 video games. Los Angeles hasn’t been capable of transfer larger than ninth within the Western Convention regardless of its spectacular February.
“We’re in a race proper now, and we’re constantly simply attempting to get higher, work on ourselves and get wholesome,” Davis stated. “And whereas doing it, staying within the struggle, staying within the hunt.”
Poole scored a season-high 34 factors and Marvin Bagley III added a season-high 23 for the Wizards, who’re three losses shy of matching the longest skid in franchise historical past regardless of this encouraging effort towards the Lakers.
Washington missed 5 straight pictures and made two turnovers down the stretch in additional time, going scoreless within the last 3:50.
“I assumed it was nice,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe stated. “We talked about taking part in nearer to 48 minutes of basketball constantly, and I assumed our guys performed 53 minutes tonight. We performed the entire recreation. … Our guys performed exhausting, constant, shared the ball, did the issues we have been asking the entire recreation. Simply didn’t get the win.”
Former Lakers ahead Kyle Kuzma scored 20 factors, however missed a tying 3-point try with eight seconds left in additional time. Corey Kispert additionally had 20 factors for Washington.
The Wizards led for a lot of the first three quarters, they usually rallied from an eight-point deficit within the fourth. Washington led 126-124 with 43 seconds left in regulation after Poole drained his fifth 3-pointer of the night time, however Austin Reaves tied it for LA with a fadeaway jumper.
Poole missed a 31-footer on the regulation buzzer.
“I’m happy with our guys, only for the best way we at the very least closed the sport,” Poole stated. “We fought. … Good look (to finish regulation). Look I needed. Just a bit bit off to the left. I’d shoot it once more.”
D’Angelo Russell scored 22 factors for the Lakers.
Wizards rookie Bilal Coulibaly missed his second straight recreation with a bruised proper pelvis, however Deni Avdija returned from a three-game absence with a bruised left heel.
Cam Reddish missed the second half for the Lakers after taking part in 4 minutes within the first half. He solely returned Wednesday from a five-week absence on account of an ankle damage, and coach Darvin Ham stated he had soreness in his ankle.
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NEXT LAKERS SCHEDULE
Wizards: At Clippers on Friday night time.
Lakers: Host Denver on Saturday night time.
