Anthony Davis delivered a season-high 38 points and 12 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers (4-2) defeated the Toronto Raptors (1-5) 131-125 on Friday night. LeBron James added 27 points and 10 assists, guiding the Lakers to a road victory without ever trailing.
The Lakers built a commanding lead, going up by as much as 26 points in the first half before Toronto surged back in the second half. Austin Reaves contributed 20 points for Los Angeles, while D’Angelo Russell added 19, helping secure the Lakers’ first road win this season after back-to-back losses.
Toronto was led by RJ Barrett, who recorded a season-high 33 points and set a career-high with 12 assists. Rookie Gradey Dick scored a career-high 31 points, while Jakob Poeltl finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds, contributing to Toronto’s second-half rally.
The Raptors narrowed the deficit to six points in the fourth quarter, but Max Christie and Rui Hachimura responded with critical points to extend Los Angeles’ lead. Christie made two free throws, and Hachimura hit two corner threes, pushing the Lakers back to a double-digit advantage.
Los Angeles’ scoring surge was bolstered by frequent trips to the free-throw line, as the Lakers attempted 41 free throws compared to Toronto’s 13. This disparity allowed the Lakers to maintain their lead despite the Raptors’ comeback effort.
In his season debut, Toronto’s Ja’Kobe Walter made an early impact, completing a three-point play in the second quarter for his first NBA points. He finished the game with five points in 20 minutes but struggled from the field, shooting just 1-for-8.
Lakers rookie Bronny James made a brief appearance, entering for the final 7.6 seconds to cap off the team’s victory. Meanwhile, Davis showcased his dominant post play, scoring consistently inside and converting 10 of his 11 free throw attempts.
The Raptors now face a four-game losing streak, struggling with defensive lapses and injuries to key players like Scottie Barnes and Bruce Brown. Their bench, led by Chris Boucher’s nine points, provided limited support as the Lakers’ offense continued to thrive throughout the night.
