The Toronto Raptors arrived at the Crypt on Friday determined to prevent Anthony Davis from beating them. Whenever Davis got near the ball, he was generally double and even triple-teamed in an effort to either force a pass or prevent him from getting it in the first place.
Toronto was clearly challenging the supporting cast of the Lakers, and to say the least, the supporting cast responded.
It started with D'Angelo Russell, who put up 28 points and nine dimes in his return after missing six games with an ankle injury. But Austin Reaves, Dennis Schroder, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt were all in double-figures as well. Reaves, Russell and Schroder combined for 21 assists, and as a team the Lakers shot over 43% from 3-point range.
Sure, there were too many turnovers, and the Lakers often seemed out of sorts offensively as they tried to work around Toronto's overplay of A.D., but broadly speaking there was a great deal to like about Friday's game, including a lockdown fourth quarter in which the Raptors only scored 22 points.
With the win, the Lakers move to within a game of the 6th seed (Dallas) and are only a game and a half behind the Clippers in the 5th spot. Worth noting: The Lakers have games left against both, providing an opportunity to eat up some ground, directly. Meanwhile, they'll welcome a hobbled Knicks squad that could be missing star guard Jalen Brunson to the Crypt on Sunday.
Then they'll play injury-riddled New Orleans, and a horrible Rockets squad.
Opportunity knocks, and the Lakers are feeling confident.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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