Anthony Davis and LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to a narrow 105-104 victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena. Davis posted 33 points and 11 rebounds, while James added 27 points and 14 assists to secure the Lakers’ 12th win of the season.
The game ended dramatically after James missed a three-pointer in the final seconds, giving Utah a chance to snatch the victory. However, Collin Sexton fumbled the inbound pass, and the Jazz failed to get a shot off before time expired.
Davis dominated the third quarter, scoring 16 points to help Los Angeles maintain a lead. In the fourth, James took over with a series of clutch plays, including a reverse layup and a dunk, that stretched the Lakers’ lead to 101-92 before Utah rallied late.
Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 22 points, while John Collins contributed 21 in a losing effort. Walker Kessler added 13 points and 11 rebounds, keeping the Jazz within striking distance with a critical putback in the final minute.
Utah’s chances for a potential game-winner were dashed when a timeout called by head coach Will Hardy nullified Sexton’s layup, which would have given the Jazz a one-point lead with 2.1 seconds left. The subsequent turnover ended their hopes for an upset.
The Lakers played without key contributors Jaxson Hayes, Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and Cam Reddish due to injuries and illness. Despite the absences, Los Angeles managed to overcome its struggles, including shooting just 7-of-33 from beyond the arc.
James achieved another career milestone in the win, becoming only the second player in NBA history to surpass 15,000 career field goals made, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Turnovers proved costly for Utah, which committed 15 giveaways leading to 20 points for Los Angeles. The Jazz continue to lead the league in turnovers, a recurring issue that has plagued them during their 4-16 start.
Davis’ presence in the paint provided the Lakers with stability, while James’ playmaking helped Los Angeles navigate the Jazz’s defensive schemes. Off the bench, Max Christie chipped in 12 points and went 8-of-10 from the free-throw line to complement the Lakers’ stars.
The Jazz have now lost eight of their last nine games despite efficient shooting, hitting 50.6% of their attempts on Sunday. Their defensive struggles and inability to capitalize on late-game opportunities highlighted ongoing challenges for the young squad.
Los Angeles moves to 12-8 on the season, showing resilience despite injuries to key players. Utah, at 4-16, continues to search for solutions as it struggles to find consistency on both ends of the court.
