Despite being without their best player, LeBron James, the Lakers easily defeated the Utah Jazz with a career night from Rui Hachimura and an All-Star showing from Anthony Davis.
The Lakers prevailed with a much-needed victory, while the Jazz managed to remain in the game for the most part. The Lakers have won three straight games going into the All-Star break.
Let’s now assess the victory. As usual, grades are determined by the standards set for each participant. The average performance for the player is indicated with a “B” grade.
Hachimura’s night was crucial to his career, and the Lakers certainly needed it. For the Lakers, Hachimura was unmatched as he scored 36 points and made six 3-pointers.
The Lakers’ aggressiveness was what kept them in the game, not just their stats. especially throughout the first half, when his 20 points gave the Lakers a one-point advantage at the intermission.
In the regular season, Hachimura and Davis accomplished something that hasn’t been done by a Lakers team since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal: scoring 35 points or more per game.
In the regular season, Hachimura and Davis accomplished something that hasn’t been done by a Lakers team since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal: scoring 35 points.
The Lakers would not have defeated Utah if it weren’t for his offensive burst and his defensive quarterbacking throughout the contest. Tonight’s game was a shining illustration of why Davis is such a great player, and he is maybe enjoying his finest regular season as a Laker.
Prince returned to the starting lineup with James sidelined. Everything transpired just as predicted. Prince didn’t play a terrible game, but it wasn’t very good either. His attack was mediocre, and the defense was unremarkable. He made shrewd shot selections and didn’t impede the team’s progress.
Prince is more effective as a reserve, and although he was unable to do so today, the performance of this game demonstrated that he ought to start only when the team is severely shorthanded.
