The Lakers have won four out of their last five games after their win over the Boston Celtics last Thursday at home. They now get ready to embark on a six-game road trip that begins in Northern California when they face the Golden State Warriors.
Out of the four games that they won the win over Miami on January 15, helped the Lakers flip the script following two of their worst defensive halves of the season. It was time to lock down on the defensive side of the court or face their first four game slide of the season. The Lakers made their decision, holding the Heat to 42 second half points after allowing 66 first half points after being outscored 73-40 in a brutal second half collapse against the San Antonio Spurs on January 13.
“There was nothing we changed schematically,” said Laker head coach JJ Redick after the game against Miami. “I implored our team to talk more and play harder. The Lakers forced 20 turnovers and had a 23-7 advantage off turnovers.
The third quarter was pivotal not just statistically, but with hustle plays. LeBron James took a charge, Anthony Davis dove for a loose ball, and the Laker stars set the tone fighting back from a 12-point halftime deficit. They closed the third quarter on a 10-2 run that cut the lead to two before taking control in the fourth quarter. “It was really our defense that allowed us to get back in the game and ultimately win,” Redick said.
James scored nine of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, including seven straight in crunch time to finish to finish off his former team. James added nine assists and five rebounds in 38 minutes, the most he’s played since logging 43 minutes in an overtime loss to the Hawks on December 6.
Austin Reaves dished out 14 assists against the Heat on a night where the Lakers had 33 as a team, forcing the Heat to out of their zone defense by moving the ball and getting good shots. “I just think I played better,” said Reaves. “These past two games before this game, I take full responsibility, like I said earlier I didn’t play good. My job is to help us win games, so I had to be better.”
Rui Hachinura led the Laker team with 23 points, Davis had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and all five Laker starters scored in double figures and Gabe Vincent came off the bench to score 14 points. That was the most points he has scored during his two years with the team.
“It’s been a hell of a week for us in LA but we gotta stick together and we know how to bond together,” said James after the Miami game to television reporter Mike Trudell in his first comments about the fires that ravaged Pacific Palisades, Altadena and other areas. “We apologize for the other night, we didn’t give it what had against San Antonio and hopefully we were able to bring a little excitement to the households wherever you are, to the families that have been affected by the tragedies, but our hearts are with them.”