At the beginning of the game, Lakers coach Darvin Ham offered a starting lineup of five forwards, which must have caught the eyes of many fans. But the Hornets were not afraid, and the hot Bridges and Rozier quickly ignited the first quarter of the game, especially Bridges, who felt like a fish in water, with three-pointers one after another, as if they were partying.
For the Lakers, James, who started point guard, seemed to be under pressure from his predecessor Iverson's comments and was slightly hesitant. Hachimura's appearance did not quickly change the fate of the Lakers in the first quarter. At the end of the period, the Lakers' backup twin stars Russell and Reaves raised their arms and narrowed the difference.
In the second quarter of the game, the Lakers' leaders gradually found their offensive touch. James forced the basket, Vanderbilt, Wood, and Reaves hit three-pointers one after another, and the Lakers' bench lit the powder keg. But the Hornets weren't on the back of their way, with Miller and Richards giving the Lakers a narrow one-point lead at halftime.
At the end of the first half, the Lakers led 58-57, but that margin didn't show us any signs of the Lakers taking complete control of the game. In crunch time, Lakers leaders need to play better.
The critical moment is really the time when the bigwigs love to emerge. James, the soon-to-be-39-year-old veteran, has shown his absolute standing in the league. In the third quarter, James scored 12 points, 5 assists and 2 rebounds in a single quarter, and the Lakers, who scored 41 points, won by 18 points in this quarter and completely collapsed the Hornets.
The Lakers in this section are simply the basketball version of the "tribute textbook". Hachimura, Russell, and Reaves scored one after another, while James was the commander on the court, keeping the game firmly in the hands of the Lakers. The Hornets completely lost their ability to resist in this quarter, and the Lakers, like a pack of hungry wolves, found the perfect time for the group to tear apart.
James' performance in the game is nothing short of a portrayal of an ageless legend. At the age of 39, he is like a young player on the field, both offensive and defensive, and responds to all doubts with practical actions. In just 24 minutes and 43 seconds of playing time, he contributed a double-double of 17 points, 11 assists and 4 rebounds. Whether it's playmaking or individual scoring, James has shown his dominance in the game.
What's even more amazing is that James didn't blindly pursue personal data, but completely took the game into the hands of the Lakers at critical moments. The stellar performance in the third quarter was nothing short of a punch to all the GOAT debates, and the 39-year-old James was like a time traveler in basketball, still in peak form.
In the final quarter, the Lakers sent their bench players early on, while James and Davis cheered on their teammates on the sidelines. This scene makes people see the tacit understanding and cohesion of the Lakers team. The substitute players lived up to expectations and brought the game to the end with a loud basketball melody.
Russell and Reaves on the bench continued to shine, and Schifino also ushered in playing time, and the Lakers' deep lineup was on full display. When the game went into garbage time, the Lakers laughed and finally beat the Hornets with a score of 133-112, presenting fans with a wonderful game.
Let's take a look at the detailed stats of this game, the Lakers are on fire, and it is simply a basketball version of the fireworks feast. The Lakers had seven players score in double figures and achieve strong offensive and defensive dominance. Anthony Davis's performance on the court was remarkable, with 26 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks, and he became the Lakers' leading scorer in all rounds.
In 25 minutes of playing time, James shot 7 of 13, 2 of 5 three-pointers, 1 of 1 free throws, and scored a double-double of 17 points, 4 rebounds and 11 assists, which can be described as the key person in control of the game. Hachimura also showed excellent offensive ability after his debut, with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist, providing valuable scoring support for the Lakers.
The Lakers' team basketball was perfectly exemplified, and the tacit cooperation between the players on the court made the Hornets tired. The overall 41 assists show the Lakers' ability to work as a team, with every offensive link full of changes and surprises. James' excellent play at the point guard position is the icing on the cake for the Lakers' overall performance.
In this game, the Lakers showed the quality of a team that is a favorite to win the championship. Whether it's individual performance or teamwork, the Lakers are at the top of their game in this game. Once again, James' leadership was on full display, and his performance in key moments was breathtaking, making him a legend in the basketball world.
This game also showed us the strength of the Lakers' deep lineup. Whether it was a starter or a substitute, every player who came on the court played their part and showed the overall strength of the Lakers. The Lakers are a tight-knit army that can quickly find solutions to any dilemma, which is exactly what a true championship team has.
In the end, James' response to Iverson's comments added to the victory. James not only proved his status with practical actions on the court, but also showed his sense of responsibility and leadership for the team in words. The Lakers' return to the top, James' leadership is unshakable, I believe this is not only a victory in one game, but also a signal for the Lakers to hit the championship. Basketball fanatics, let's look forward to the Lakers continuing to write legends in future games!