D’Angelo Russell had one of those “Am I reading that right?” stat lines on Wednesday night.
The Los Angeles Lakers point guard led his team to a 133-107 victory over the young Detroit Pistons by scoring 35 points on 13 of 17 field goals (5 of 7 from three), dishing out nine assists, and—perhaps most surprisingly—possessing two blocks.
Anthony Davis finished with 28 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks, while LeBron James finished with 25 points and eight rebounds. Cade Cunningham of Detroit took the lead with 15 points and five assists.
James also received a technical penalty for failing during the game, which would have placated his detractors and made for a funny scene given his previous encounters with Isaiah Stewart:But this was the DLo Show, and while some viewers and pundits laughed at jokes about how Russell only performed well against weaker teams, most of them gave him credit for an excellent shooting and play-making performance:
Russell’s reputation as a hot-and-cold player was aided by his dreadful performance in the Western Conference Finals the previous season (6.3 PPG, 32.3 percent from the field, and 13.3 percent from three).
But his excellent play this year has validated the Lakers’ decision to re-sign him this summer for a $36 million, two-year contract (which includes a player option for the following season). Despite the belief of some in Laker Land that Austin Reaves would rank third on the team behind James and AD, he entered the game as the club’s second-best facilitator (6.2 APG) and third-highest scorer (16.7 PPG).
After what they witnessed on Wednesday night, the Lakers (11-8) will need a much better Russell than the one they saw against the Denver Nuggets in May. However, most teams will fight harder than the 2-16 Pistons.
News
LeBron James accepted to sacrifice a huge amount of money to join the Suns: Creating a historic superteam
LeBron agreed to give up a significant sum of money in order to join the Suns, building a legendary superteam. LeBron James and Bronny are reportedly targets for the Phoenix Suns this offseason. Phoenix — For the Phoenix Suns, who…
LEBRON: “Don’t get it twisted. Don’t get it f****d up. Caitlin Clark is the reason why a lot of great things is going to happen for the WNBA.”
NBA icons LeBron James and Charles Barkley are under fire for their recent comments supporting WNBA star Caitlin Clark. The men face criticism for stating that WNBA players and fans should be grateful for what the rookie is doing for the league instead of complaining…
BREAKING: Los Angeles Lakers Star LeBron James Made NBA History
On Wednesday evening, the All-NBA teams were announced by the league. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was named to the All-NBA Third Team. He finished the regular season with averages of 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.3…
Rich Paul: ‘LeBron [James] is a free agent’
Although LeBron James can opt out of his contract and become a free agent this summer, there doesn’t seem to be the same type of anticipation or angst regarding his potential free agency as there was in the past when he was…
LeBron James looks to be in playing shape as he enjoys vacation in the Maldives … after vowing never to miss the NBA playoffs again
Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers may have failed to make it to the NBA playoffs, but that wasn’t going to stop him from having fun in the sun. The baller, his wife Savannah, their family, and friends jetted off…
Bronny James Decides to Stay in NBA Draft, Forgoes College Return
Bronny James, the highly touted basketball prospect and son of NBA superstar LeBron James, has made a significant decision regarding his future. Bronny has opted to remain in the 2024 NBA Draft, choosing not to return to college. This decision marks…
End of content
No more pages to load