Tikteknu: today's summary clip in sports, 8.1 (Sport1)
When Anthony Davis was injured, many expected the Los Angeles Lakers to give up this season.
But LeBron James and his friends recovered, and they are now on a five-game winning streak - the longest in the league, along with Memphis - and are only a game and a half away from the Clippers, who are in sixth place in the West.
Darwin's team has a record of 21:19, equal to that of the tenth Utah, in the leading place for the play-in.
Also in the 134:136 over Sacramento, LeBron was above everyone, with 37 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, but this time he received very significant help from his friends.
Three other players scored 23 points or more - Thomas Bryant, who is in great form (29 points and 14 rebounds), Dennis Schroeder (27 points, including two fatal free throws) and Russell Westbrook (23 points and 15 assists).
Since celebrating his 38th birthday, LeBron is scoring 38 points per game and has yet to lose.
"It was a very impressive win," said ESPN commentator and former player Kendrick Perkins.
"It can be argued that in the last five games they are playing the best basketball in the league."
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"We are heading in the right direction and learning from our mistakes," Hamm said.
"We've already been through a lot and it was a huge lesson for us, but we're on the right track."
Regarding LeBron's words about a week and a half ago - a clear message to the management that he wants reinforcement, the coach said: "No one disagreed with him, these are facts. It was a wake-up call that everyone should wake up to.
Bryant stepped into Davis' shoes well, when he became the first Lakers player since Shaquille O'Neal who puts up at least 29 points and 14 rebounds in such high percentages from the field (85%). "It's mainly a matter of confidence," he said. "We try to bring it night after night.
I know each of the guys is proud to be here."
At the beginning of the season, Zach Lavin could not play at all day after day, remembering the severe knee injury.
Now, it seems the Chicago star is back to his senses - and in a big way.
After the 11 three-pointers he rained down on Philadelphia, he hit eight (including three in a row in the last quarter) against Utah, leading the Bulls to an important 118:126.
The guard is 17-of-25 from beyond the arc in his last two games, and if you ask Billy Donovan, he should shoot even more.
Donovan would like to see LaVine shoot 10-15 3-pointers a game, no less, as Chicago is the team that shoots the least from beyond the arc so far this season (28.7 tonight).
"For us to shoot more threes, he is an important part of that," the coach said.
"He needs to find the balance between throwing three-pointers and penetrating the basket or creating an attack for other players. In recent weeks, he seems to be feeling healthier. The game comes very easily to him."
The Bulls recorded their third win in a row, and continue their recovery.
"We are playing well," said the star.
"Maybe not perfect, but we compete, we come to every game with a certain energy. Everyone expected me to come back from the surgery the way I was, but it takes a lot of training and rehabilitation. I knew that eventually I would come back here."
Luka Doncic continues in his own right.
The Dallas star delivered his ninth triple-double of the season - 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 117:127 victory over New Orleans, to give the Mavs their eighth win in nine games.
Whereas, the compliments at the end went to the rookie, Jayden Hardy, the 37th pick in the last draft, who provided a career high of 15 points.
"He's improved in every area," Jason Kidd said.
"He is a young man with a huge superstar by his side, and he is a perfect fit for us."
Doncic was also flattered: "Amazing. They couldn't stop him. He's a great player, you'll see."
Just before the game against Orlando, Golden State announced that Klay Thompson would not dress due to knee pain.
"We are talking here about a player who has had two very serious injuries in recent years, so things like this happen," said Steve Kerr, who claimed that the pain does not indicate a new or worrisome injury.
"These are things that have to be dealt with."
In the game itself, the Warriors lost, despite Andre Iguodala's first game of the season, who finished with 0 points in 12 minutes.
"He hasn't played since the final," said Kerr, "it will take him a little time to get into the rhythm."
sport
NBA
Tags
NBA
Zac Lavin
LeBron James
Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic
