Your Los Angeles Lakers edged the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night by a score of 116-110, giving them their fifth win of the season. It wasn’t an easy game, and the team had to play it without the services of star forward LeBron James due to injury.
But the team’s other future first-ballot Hall of Famer, Anthony Davis, led the Lakers through the game without James, dropping 30 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and three blocks. It was a great night for the Lakers big man, and it helped the team earn a big win without their captain.
Guard Austin Reaves gave some thoughts on the performance from Davis and how his hairstyle gave Reaves the incline that a special game was coming.
“I saw the fro back tonight, so I thought this was going to be a good day for him. Any time you get Anthony Davis, you have a chance. He changes the game.”
Davis has been playing lights out all season long, except for the second half of the season opener against the Denver Nuggets. It seems that he has taken that performance to heart, and it has been awesome to see from the star player.
This year, Davis is averaging 23.9 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks per game. He is an early frontrunner for the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award right now, even with the limited sample size.
The team is going to need him to stay energized and engaged throughout the year, especially if James isn’t able to stay on the court. But the health of Davis is key as well, as he has had some injury issues over the years too.
The Lakers need Davis on the floor to give them an advantage on both sides of the floor. He is a game-changer when he is healthy, and LA thrives off his involvement.
