The Los Angeles Lakers will aim to stay unbeaten at home when they face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
After starting the season with their first 3-0 record since 2010-11, the Lakers struggled with a 1-4 record during a five-game road trip. However, their return home on Friday brought a much-needed 116-106 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, preventing a three-game losing streak. Anthony Davis led the way with 31 points, continuing his strong start to the season.
Davis has scored 31 points or more in six of his eight games this season and has grabbed at least 11 rebounds in four of those games. His four blocked shots in the win over Philadelphia were a season high.
LeBron James also had a standout performance, recording his 114th career triple-double with 21 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds. Austin Reaves added 20 points, and the Lakers improved to 3-1 when Reaves scores at least 20.
In addition, Cam Reddish and D’Angelo Russell played important roles in the win. Russell came off the bench to score 18 points, and Reddish contributed in several ways, even though he only took one shot in 27 minutes of play.
Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Reddish for his defensive effort and unselfish play. “Cam had a huge impact on the game defensively in the first half,” Redick said, highlighting Reddish’s involvement in set plays.
Russell, who is averaging 12.7 points per game, joins Davis (32.4), James (23.7), Reaves (17.8), and Rui Hachimura (13.0) as the Lakers’ top scorers. Hachimura, who missed the previous game against Memphis, returned on Friday and scored nine points.
The Raptors, on the other hand, are struggling on their current five-game road trip. After losing 105-103 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, Toronto dropped to 0-3 on the trip. Despite strong performances from Ochai Agbaji and Immanuel Quickley, who each scored 21 points, and Gradey Dick, who added 15 points, the Raptors fell short of their usual scoring pace.
RJ Barrett, who leads the team with 25.7 points per game, had a quiet outing with just 13 points against the Clippers. Toronto will need to get Barrett back on track and push the tempo to have a better chance against the Lakers.
Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic has emphasized a fast-paced, unselfish style of play, with a focus on ball movement. Toronto entered the game against the Clippers with the highest assist average in the NBA, nearly 31 per game.
“It’s the right way to play basketball,” Rajakovic said, stressing the importance of playing together as a team. He also pointed to successful teams like the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs, all of which were known for their team-oriented play.
