Anthony Davis led the Los Angeles Lakers with 37 points and 15 rebounds, while Rui Hachimura scored a career-high 36 points as they defeated the Utah Jazz 138-122. LeBron James was rested due to an ankle injury, with his participation in the upcoming All-Star Game confirmed. Hachimura showcased his skills with six 3-pointers, surpassing his previous career-high of 30 points. The Lakers, with four straight road wins, have won six of their last seven games. Collin Sexton of the Jazz reached the milestone of 6,000 career points, contributing 18 points in the game. Utah, however, has struggled, losing nine of their last 13 games and slipping out of the final play-in spot in the Western Conference. Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen added 17 and 16 points respectively for the Jazz.
The Lakers capitalized on offensive spacing, shooting an impressive 57%, allowing for easy drives to the basket and open 3-pointers. D’Angelo Russell had a notable performance with 20 points and a career-high 17 assists. Davis took charge during a crucial 30-10 surge, scoring 17 points to propel the Lakers ahead after the Jazz briefly took the lead. In contrast to his previous performance at Utah, where he struggled shooting, Davis was dominant with his jumpers, drives, and putbacks, and also excelled at the free-throw line.
Hachimura’s first-half performance was instrumental in the Lakers’ success, as he contributed 21 points. Clarkson provided a spark for the Jazz in the second period, scoring 13 points to narrow the gap to just one point at halftime.
Looking ahead, the Lakers will face the Golden State Warriors after the All-Star break, while the Jazz will host the Warriors in their next game.
