Davis leads Lakers to their 8th win in 9 games, scores 35 points in 125-120 victory over Wizards
WASHINGTON (AP) Anthony Davis scored 19 of his 35 points in the first quarter and had 18 rebounds, helping the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Washington Wizards 125-120 on Wednesday night for their eighth victory in nine games.
LeBron James had 25 points and nine assists, and Rui Hachimura scored 19 points for the Lakers against his former team. Davis was 10 of 17 from the field and made 15 free throws without a miss.
Jordan Poole led Washington with 29 points.
The Lakers are ninth in the Western Conference, meaning they'd have to win twice in the play-in tournament to make the main playoff bracket. But they're making a push to move up. Los Angeles trailed Phoenix and Sacramento by 1 1/2 games entering Wednesday.
“We want to continue to play good basketball,” James said. “The postseason's still kind of a ways away. ... Postseason prep, all that other stuff is totally different from the regular season, so wherever we fall is where we fall.”
The Wizards are a loss shy of matching the franchise record of 63.
Washington was coming off a nice win over Milwaukee on Tuesday night, and the Wizards made their first five 3-point attempts against the Lakers. Washington led 19-8 early on, and the problems mounted for Los Angeles when Davis took a stray elbow to the nose from Wizards 7-footer Tristan Vukcevic and stayed down on the floor for a bit.
But Davis was able to play on, which was bad news for Washington. The Wizards didn't have the size necessary to deal with him, and Davis dominated the rest of the quarter. By the time it was over, he'd already made 11 free throws, and the Lakers led 39-29.
Los Angeles led by seven at the half, then went on a 9-2 run to start the third quarter to take a 76-62 advantage. D'Angelo Russell scored 18 points for the Lakers, who went 5-1 on a six-game trip.
Washington pulled back within two in the fourth and was having some success with its zone defense before James spun around Jared Butler and dunked to make it 109-105. That started a 12-0 run.
“When we're scoring at will, teams are going to try to get into a zone and try to slow us down," Davis said. "We've got to be able to get to our zone offense to combat that.”
The Lakers had removed James and Davis, the game seemingly in hand, when the Wizards scored eight straight points to make it 125-120. After a Los Angeles turnover with 17.4 seconds remaining, James and Davis came back in.
Davis blocked a 3-point attempt by Butler and the Lakers held on.
“I hate the term garbage time,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “You're playing in the NBA. There's only so many spots, and you get a chance to play, even if it's the last 50 seconds, go hard. Go hard or you stay home, pretty much."
James was called for a flagrant foul when he made a spin move while driving to the basket and caught Deni Avdija with an elbow in the second quarter.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Host Cleveland on Saturday.
Wizards: Host Portland on Friday night.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Anthony Davis vs. Tristan Vukcevic (LeBron James gains possession) | ||
| 11:44 |  | Austin Reaves misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:41 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 11:31 | | +3 | Deni Avdija makes three point pullup jump shot | 0-3 |
| 11:18 | | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 2-3 |
| 11:00 | | +3 | Jordan Poole makes three point jump shot (Deni Avdija assists) | 2-6 |
| 10:45 | | Rui Hachimura misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:43 | | Austin Reaves offensive rebound | ||
| 10:37 | | Anthony Davis misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 10:33 | | Anthony Davis offensive rebound | ||
| 10:32 | | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point tip layup | 4-6 |
| 10:25 | | Jordan Poole misses two point driving bank hook shot | ||
| 10:22 | | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | ||
| 10:05 | | Rui Hachimura turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Poole steals) | ||
| 9:56 | | +3 | Corey Kispert makes three point jump shot (Kyle Kuzma assists) | 4-9 |
| 9:34 | | Anthony Davis misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 9:32 | | Tristan Vukcevic defensive rebound | ||
| 9:25 | | +2 | Kyle Kuzma makes two point alley-oop layup (Tristan Vukcevic assists) | 4-11 |
| 9:14 | | Tristan Vukcevic personal foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | ||
| 9:00 | | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point pullup jump shot | 6-11 |
| 8:50 | | +3 | Tristan Vukcevic makes three point jump shot (Jordan Poole assists) | 6-14 |
| 8:32 | | LeBron James misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 8:31 | | Rui Hachimura offensive rebound | ||
| 8:30 | | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point putback layup | 8-14 |
| 8:20 | | +3 | Corey Kispert makes three point jump shot (Jordan Poole assists) | 8-17 |
| 8:01 | | Austin Reaves misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 7:59 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 7:54 | | +2 | Kyle Kuzma makes two point running pullup jump shot | 8-19 |
| 7:52 | | Lakers 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:43 | | Corey Kispert shooting foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | ||
| 7:43 | | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-19 |
| 7:43 | | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-19 |
| 7:25 | | Kyle Kuzma turnover (bad pass) (LeBron James steals) | ||
| 7:21 | | +2 | D'Angelo Russell makes two point running layup | 12-19 |
| 7:04 | | Tristan Vukcevic offensive foul (Charge) (LeBron James draws the foul) | ||
| 7:04 | | Tristan Vukcevic turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:50 | | Austin Reaves misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:46 | | Tristan Vukcevic defensive rebound | ||
| 6:44 | | Rui Hachimura personal foul (Kyle Kuzma draws the foul) | ||
| 6:44 | | Lakers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:30 | | +2 | Jordan Poole makes two point stepback jump shot | 12-21 |
| 6:19 | | +3 | D'Angelo Russell makes three point pullup jump shot (LeBron James assists) | 15-21 |
| 6:05 | | Jordan Poole misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:01 | | D'Angelo Russell defensive rebound | ||
| 5:54 | | +3 | D'Angelo Russell makes three point jump shot (Austin Reaves assists) | 18-21 |
| 5:35 | | Kyle Kuzma turnover (lost ball) (Austin Reaves steals) | ||
| 5:33 | | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point running layup | 20-21 |
| 5:33 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive goaltending violation | ||
| 5:18 | | Corey Kispert turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Davis steals) | ||
| 5:07 | | Anthony Gill personal foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | ||
| 5:00 | | Corey Kispert technical foul (Defensive three second) | ||
| 5:00 | | +1 | Anthony Davis makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 21-21 |
| 4:44 | | +2 | LeBron James makes two point pullup jump shot | 23-21 |
| 4:24 | | Kyle Kuzma turnover (lost ball) (Taurean Prince steals) | ||
| 4:20 | | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point running layup (LeBron James assists) | 25-21 |
| 4:20 | | Corey Kispert shooting foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | ||
| 4:20 | | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 26-21 |
| 4:08 | | Justin Champagnie misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:04 | | Taurean Prince defensive rebound | ||
| 3:47 | | D'Angelo Russell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:45 | | Anthony Gill defensive rebound | ||
| 3:39 | | Justin Champagnie misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 3:35 | | Taurean Prince defensive rebound | ||
| 3:27 | | Spencer Dinwiddie misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:22 | | Jordan Poole defensive rebound | ||
| 3:18 | | +3 | Jordan Poole makes three point running jump shot (Corey Kispert assists) | 26-24 |
| 2:59 | | Taurean Prince misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:56 | | Gabe Vincent offensive rebound | ||
| 2:48 | | Anthony Gill shooting foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | ||
| 2:48 | | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-24 |
| 2:48 | | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-24 |
| 2:37 | | Deni Avdija misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 2:34 | | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | ||
| 2:21 | | Anthony Davis misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 2:20 | | Anthony Davis offensive rebound | ||
| 2:19 | | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point reverse dunk | 30-24 |
| 2:07 | | Patrick Baldwin Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:05 | | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | ||
| 1:59 | | Patrick Baldwin Jr. shooting foul (Spencer Dinwiddie draws the foul) | ||
| 1:59 | | +1 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-24 |
| 1:59 | | +1 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-24 |
| 1:44 | | Jordan Poole misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 1:42 | | Taurean Prince defensive rebound | ||
| 1:33 | | Max Christie misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 1:31 | | Anthony Davis offensive rebound | ||
| 1:30 | | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point putback layup | 34-24 |
| 1:18 | | Deni Avdija misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:16 | | Taurean Prince defensive rebound | ||
| 1:14 | | Spencer Dinwiddie turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 1:06 | | Gabe Vincent shooting foul (Jordan Poole draws the foul) | ||
| 1:06 | | +1 | Jordan Poole makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-25 |
| 1:06 | | +1 | Jordan Poole makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-26 |
| 0:59 | | Anthony Davis turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Gill steals) | ||
| 0:54 | | +3 | Jordan Poole makes three point running pullup jump shot (Anthony Gill assists) | 34-29 |
| 0:37 | | Patrick Baldwin Jr. shooting foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | ||
| 0:37 | | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-29 |
| 0:37 | | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 36-29 |
| 0:26 | | Jordan Poole misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:18 | | Taurean Prince defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | Patrick Baldwin Jr. shooting foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | ||
| 0:00 | | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 37-29 |
| 0:00 | | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 38-29 |
| 0:00 | | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 39-29 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:47 | | Jaxson Hayes shooting foul (Tristan Vukcevic draws the foul) | ||
| 11:47 | | +1 | Tristan Vukcevic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 39-30 |
| 11:47 | | +1 | Tristan Vukcevic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-31 |
| 11:30 | | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving bank jump shot | 41-31 |
| 11:05 | | +2 | Deni Avdija makes two point driving layup | 41-33 |
| 11:05 | | Taurean Prince shooting foul (Deni Avdija draws the foul) | ||
| 11:05 | | Deni Avdija misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 11:02 | | Deni Avdija offensive rebound | ||
| 11:02 | | Deni Avdija turnover (traveling) | ||
| 10:51 | | Austin Reaves turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 10:43 | | Jared Butler turnover (bad pass) (Austin Reaves steals) | ||
| 10:38 | | LeBron James turnover (lost ball) (Jared Butler steals) | ||
| 10:33 | | +2 | Tristan Vukcevic makes two point running dunk (Deni Avdija assists) | 41-35 |
| 10:18 | | Austin Reaves misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:16 | | Austin Reaves offensive rebound | ||
| 10:15 | | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point driving layup | 43-35 |
| 9:58 | | Tristan Vukcevic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:56 | | Austin Reaves defensive rebound | ||
| 9:50 | | Jaxson Hayes turnover (lost ball) (Deni Avdija steals) | ||
| 9:45 | | Jared Butler turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:36 | | Tristan Vukcevic shooting foul (Jaxson Hayes draws the foul) | ||
| 9:36 | | +1 | Jaxson Hayes makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 44-35 |
| 9:36 | | Jaxson Hayes misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 9:31 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 9:17 | | Eugene Omoruyi misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:16 | | Taurean Prince defensive rebound | ||
| 8:57 | | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving layup | 46-35 |
| 8:47 | | +3 | Jared Butler makes three point pullup jump shot | 46-38 |
| 8:22 | | LeBron James misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 8:20 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 8:16 | | Eugene Omoruyi misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 8:13 | | LeBron James defensive rebound | ||
| 8:09 | | LeBron James misses two point running layup | ||
| 8:09 | | Corey Kispert defensive rebound | ||
| 8:03 | | +2 | Jared Butler makes two point running layup | 46-40 |
| 7:46 | | Austin Reaves misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 7:43 | | Jared Butler defensive rebound | ||
| 7:41 | | +2 | Corey Kispert makes two point running layup (Jared Butler assists) | 46-42 |
| 7:41 | | Lakers 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:27 | | Eugene Omoruyi blocks LeBron James's two point cutting layup | ||
| 7:24 | | Eugene Omoruyi defensive rebound | ||
| 7:17 | | Corey Kispert turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 7:07 | | +2 | Jaxson Hayes makes two point cutting dunk (LeBron James assists) | 48-42 |
| 6:50 | | +3 | Kyle Kuzma makes three point jump shot (Corey Kispert assists) | 48-45 |
| 6:40 | | +3 | Rui Hachimura makes three point jump shot (Jaxson Hayes assists) | 51-45 |
| 6:19 | | +2 | Kyle Kuzma makes two point turnaround bank jump shot | 51-47 |
| 6:00 | | Jared Butler blocks Rui Hachimura's two point layup | ||
| 5:59 | | Lakers offensive rebound | ||
| 5:51 | | +2 | LeBron James makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 53-47 |
| 5:38 | | Eugene Omoruyi misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:37 | | Lakers defensive rebound | ||
| 5:17 | | Anthony Davis misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 5:15 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 5:10 | | +3 | Kyle Kuzma makes three point pullup jump shot | 53-50 |
| 5:10 | | Rui Hachimura shooting foul (Kyle Kuzma draws the foul) | ||
| 5:10 | | +1 | Kyle Kuzma makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 53-51 |
| 4:48 | | LeBron James misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 4:45 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 4:27 | | Kyle Kuzma misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 4:25 | | LeBron James defensive rebound | ||
| 4:23 | | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point running reverse layup (LeBron James assists) | 55-51 |
| 4:22 | | Wizards 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:12 | | Deni Avdija turnover (lost ball) (D'Angelo Russell steals) | ||
| 4:06 | | +2 | LeBron James makes two point running layup | 57-51 |
| 4:06 | | Corey Kispert shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | ||
| 4:06 | | +1 | LeBron James makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 58-51 |
| 3:45 | | Corey Kispert misses two point driving layup | ||
| 3:43 | | Rui Hachimura defensive rebound | ||
| 3:32 |