Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves power LeBron-less Lakers past Kings

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Lakers star Anthony Davis, center, shoots between Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles, left, and guard Keon Ellis during the Lakers’ 132-122 win Saturday Crypto.com Arena. Davis finished with 36 points and 15 rebounds. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

The hit was going to come, the Lakers and JJ Redick sure of it.

Sacramento had been thrown into complete chaos, the Lakers taking two straight from the Kings in their building last week — links in the chain of events that led to the team firing coach Mike Brown on his way to board the flight for L.A.

Beating the Kings for the fourth time this season already was going to be hard; a shakeup like a coaching change was sure to have Sacramento flying around the court like the turbo button was stuck.

The Lakers would have to respond, meet force with force and speed with speed — and do it without LeBron James, who was home sick.

Read more: The Lakers are coming home and could be getting healthier on multiple fronts

But just like they found a way on Christmas with Anthony Davis out because of an ankle injury, the Lakers did it again Saturday in a 132-122 win, spoiling former Laker (and rival) Doug Christie’s first game as interim Kings coach.

“I think it is growth,” Austin Reaves said of the Lakers’ energy. “You can see the growth throughout our group.”

Reaves, who hit the winning shot against the Golden State Warriors on Christmas, orchestrated the offense with James out, scoring 26 and dishing out a career-high 16 assists. Davis, back on the floor after playing only seven minutes Wednesday, dominated his matchup with Domantas Sabonis, scoring 36 (on only 16 shots) to go with 15 rebounds and eight assists. And Rui Hachimura needed only 11 shots to score 21 points while giving the Lakers the kind of physicality and activity on the wing they need on both ends of the court.

Sabonis scored 14 points before fouling out in 26 minutes. De’Aaron Fox had 29 points and 12 assists and DeMar DeRozan finished with 25 points for the Kings (13-19).

“Playing together, having great offense, guys are flying around, cutting hard, screening hard, doing what we’re supposed to…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/anthony-davis-austin-reaves-power-061032348.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-12-29 06:10:00

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