Anthony Davis scored 37 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Rui Hachimura added a career-high 33 points with LeBron James resting as the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 138-122 last Wednesday night during the last game before their eight-day All-star game break.
Davis and Hachimura became the first pair of Lakers teammates to both score 35 plus points in the same game since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal in 2003. Hachimura made a career-best six threes on his way to his big night. "I want to impact the game. My goal is to be the X-factor for the team, offensively or defensively. Be aggressive and use my size," Hachimura said.
Austin Reaves chipped in 22 points as the Lakers picked up their third straight victory. They have won 11 out of the their last 16 games before heading to the All-Star break. With the win, the Lakers are now 6-1 in February. Los Angeles has won four straight games in the road. "This is who we are. This is who we need to be," said Davis. "We got to have an identity and we are starting to establish that."
The Lakers hit a blistering hot 57.1% from the field and shot 45% from three. "I think you just find what's working and feed that. It allows the game to open up for everybody," D'Angelo Russell said. The newly acquired guard from the Brooklyn Nets, Spencer Dinwiddie playing in his second game with the Lakers scored 10 points and added four assists.
Los Angeles now goes into the All-Star break sitting at, 30-26, which places them in ninth place in the Western Conference. This win puts the Lakers only four games back of the sixth seeded New Orleans Pelicans. "We are just playing the right way, sharing the basketball and playing together. Guys are making shots and we're just in a great groove and having fun," Davis said.
The Lakers don't play again until February 22nd when they travel to play the Golden State Warriors. The team is hoping to have a much healthier roster after the All-Satr break. The Lakers went on a surprising run late last season, and they are hoping to duplicate that feat this season.
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