In an exciting game at the Crypto.com Arena last night, the Los Angeles Lakers got their r first win of the season, beating the Phoenix Suns 100-95. The match was highlighted by an outstanding performance by LeBron James and a strong response from Anthony Davis, who had faced a lot of criticism following the Lakers’ first-game loss to the Denver Nuggets.
LeBron Supports Anthony Davis After Beating Suns
Anthony Davis was under the spotlight after failing to score any points in the second half. This happened during the Lakers’ first game against the Denver Nuggets, who are the defending champions. Davis is an eight-time All-Star known for his average of 24 points and 10 rebounds per game. However, he faced criticism for not scoring any points in the second half despite having 17 points before halftime. This is not the first time Davis has faced criticism. He had issues with being consistent during the Lakers’ playoff run last spring, which took them to the Western Conference finals. However, his teammate, LeBron James, had a clear message for the people who criticized him.
After their victory over the Phoenix Suns, LeBron James made it clear that he and the Lakers don’t pay attention to the criticism about Anthony Davis. James said, “We don’t care about criticism about AD. We don’t care. None of it bothers us. AD doesn’t care. He’s not on social media, so he doesn’t see any of the negative comments. He rarely talks unless it’s to us. So, we don’t care about it, and he definitely doesn’t.” LeBron’s strong support for Davis has been a common theme during their five seasons as Lakers teammates. During media day in October, he even called Davis the main face of the team. This came a few months after Davis signed a big contract extension worth $186 million, which will keep him with the Lakers until 2028.
How The Lakers Beat Durant’s Suns?
Many basketball experts have been frustrated with how Anthony Davis plays at times. They’ve noticed that he can go from being the best player on offense and defense. However, there are times, like in the second half of the game against the Nuggets, when he seems to disappear. But when Davis is healthy and at his best, he’s one of the best players in the NBA. In the win against the Phoenix Suns, LeBron James showed why he’s considered one of the greatest basketball players ever. James played for 35 minutes without taking a break during the fourth quarter. He played well with 21 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. In a close game, James scored six points in a row on his own to give the Lakers a lead they didn’t lose.
Initially, Coach Darvin Ham set a limit of 28–30 minutes for James to play in each game. This decision came after the first game of the season. But that changed quickly when they realized they couldn’t take the 38-year-old James out of the game if they wanted to win. Anthony Davis received significant criticism for his second-half performance against the Nuggets. However, he redeemed himself in the game against the Suns. He scored 17 points in the last two quarters, including some important points near the end of the game. Davis ended the game with 30 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, three steals, and three blocks.
Lakers’ fans showed a lot of love and support for their star players as the team bounced back from a tough start to the season and showed their ability to compete at a high level once again. In a league filled with talent and competition, the Lakers are showing that they have the determination and strength to remain a top team throughout the season. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way, the Lakers are eager to make a strong statement.