Los Angeles — Mid-December last season, Anthony Davis He injured his left knee and was out for over a month. lebron james They quickly increased their scoring average to make up for the absence of the big man. James stabilized the Los Angeles Lakers by scoring 30-plus points in seven straight games and scoring above 30 in 11 of 12 games.
Davis is doing his best to give back this season.
Davis scored at least 30 points for the third straight time in Los Angeles’ 123-92 win over the San Antonio Spurs as James sat out four straight games on Sunday due to a left groin strain.
It was the Lakers’ third straight win, improving their record to 5-10. Davis contributed to this streak. He has averaged 35 points, 61.7% overall shooting percentage, 91.2% shooting fouls from his line, 17.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks over his last three games.
He became the third player in Lakers history to record at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in three consecutive games, joining Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor and Shaquille O’Neal.
“Obviously, when he misses or I miss, we take it upon ourselves to fill that void as best we can,” Davis was asked about his ascension in James’ absence. He once told ESPN.
The Lakers big man was meant to take on more of the burden in order to give James more time to recover, but he specifically planned it in return for what James did last season. It was not.
“We haven’t talked about it, but he said I was playing like I used to be, so I’m trying to get back into that rhythm,” Davis told ESPN of James’ feedback.
Davis did most of the damage early on against the Spurs, posting 18 points and 5 rebounds in the first quarter. This is the most points scored in any quarter over the course of the season. as 34.
“The AD are playing like crazy,” Lakers coach Durbin Hamm said. “He has a great rhythm.”
Improved play keeps the Lakers 13th in the Western Conference, 2.5 games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for the final play-in spot in the postseason.
Of course, there are plenty of games left to improve, but the schedule doesn’t always work in LA’s favor. The Lakers head out on the road to face the West’s number two team, the Phoenix Suns, on Tuesday. This marks the beginning of a dangerous stretch in which his 16 of his next 22 games for the Lakers will be played between now and his January 2nd.
“I think everyone’s confidence is very high, even though it’s not too high,” Davis said after the press conference. “Going to Phoenix to start the trip will be a good test for us. But like I said, on both ends of the ball going into that game, I think the players’ confidence is high. And then San Antonio went on a winning streak, so it feels good to win three in a row, and now we just have to bring that to the road and win more.”
