In a hard-fought battle, Anthony Davis’ 23 points and 19 rebounds, alongside LeBron James’ 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, led the Los Angeles Lakers (38-32) to a resilient 101-94 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers (38-32) on Friday night.
Despite committing 21 turnovers, the Lakers managed to secure the win with a strong defensive display and clutch plays down the stretch, holding off a late surge from the Sixers.
D’Angelo Russell made history for the Lakers, surpassing Nick Van Exel’s single-season 3-point record with his 184th triple midway through the first quarter.
In a balanced offensive effort, Russell contributed 14 points and four 3-pointers, while Spencer Dinwiddie chipped in with 11 points, including three timely triples. Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves added 14 points each.
Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 27 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lakers’ defense. Kelly Oubre Jr. provided support with 19 points.
With Tobias Harris returning from injury and contributing 16 points and 13 rebounds, the Sixers fought valiantly but fell short on the road.
Despite the win, the Lakers stayed in ninth place in the Western Conference, trailing by 3 games behind the sixth-seeded Dallas Mavericks.
The 76ers are also in the play-in zone in the East, keeping their postseason hopes alive in absence of Joel Embiid.
