If D’Angelo Russell maintains his recent level of performance over the next two months, the Los Angeles Lakers could pose a significant threat in the Western Conference playoff race.
Russell showcased his prowess by scoring 30 points in the Lakers’ 139-122 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. He shot 9-of-19 from the field and contributed to six of the team’s 14 three-pointers.
This marked Russell’s fourth 30-point game of the season, with three of them occurring in the 14 games he’s played since January 13.
The entire Lakers starting lineup had a historic night, with all five players scoring at least 20 points. This achievement made them the first team to accomplish such a feat since 1993 and marked the first time the Lakers achieved it since November 4, 1984.
Lakers starters scoring tonight:
30 — D’Lo
27 — Reaves
21 — LeBron
21 — Rui
20 — Davis1st team to have all 5 starters score 20 or more points since 1993. pic.twitter.com/oIrpDes4y5
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 10, 2024
The Lakers have faced criticism this season for their struggles with three-point shooting, ranking at the bottom of the league in three-point attempts per game (30.6), 29th in makes per game (11.3), and 15th in success rate (36.8 percent).
Russell’s performance is helping to change this narrative, earning him praise and solidifying his importance to the team, especially after being the subject of trade rumors leading up to the deadline.
Most games with 20+ PTS and 10+ AST after turning 35 years old:
44 — LeBron James
44 — Steve Nash
20 — Chris Paul pic.twitter.com/dKhw0bxjc3— StatMamba (@StatMamba) February 10, 2024
LeBron James also had a strong game, contributing 21 points and 14 assists in 38 minutes. This marked his 12th consecutive game with at least 20 points and tied his season-high of 14 assists.
Despite the impressive showing against the Pelicans, the Lakers’ season has been marked by inconsistency, with moments of brilliance contrasting with periods of ineptitude. This inconsistency has kept them hovering around .500 for most of the season.
It’s worth noting that the Lakers’ performance against the Pelicans might be somewhat inflated due to the opponent’s struggles. The Pelicans have had two of their worst games this season against the Lakers, including a 44-point loss earlier in the season.
Looking ahead, the Lakers have an opportunity to string together some wins with favorable matchups against teams like the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs before facing the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers in late February.
