On so many occasions over the past two seasons, the Los Angeles Lakers have fallen behind by a big margin and failed to make any type of run, let alone come back to win.
Sunday’s contest against the Dallas Mavericks looked poised to be the same old story. The Mavs went up by as many as 27 points as the Lakers couldn’t throw a pea into the Gulf of Mexico.
But L.A. started to find its game late in the second quarter and cut its deficit to 14 at halftime. Then in the third period, it asserted itself, as it sped up the pace of the game and started to flex its defensive muscles while establishing an advantage on the boards.
Down the stretch, the Lakers were able to make more big shots and plays than Dallas, and it resulted in a 111-108 victory.
This win was humongous in multiple ways. For one, it elevated the Lakers into 11th place in the Western Conference, and they’re just one game behind the 10th-place New Orleans Pelicans and 2.5 games behind the Mavs, who are still in sixth place.
But perhaps more important is the symbolic importance of this victory. Los Angeles overcame a giant deficit to win even though it was without starting point guard D’Angelo Russell, and even though it shot just 43.3% overall and 17.6% from 3-point range.
Anthony Davis: A/A-plus
Early on, Davis looked a bit passive offensively. He wasn’t attacking the paint enough. But as the game wore on, he looked more and more like the best version of himself.
He finished with 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting, 15 rebounds and four assists. Perhaps more importantly, he was a force on the defensive end by blocking three shots and deterring additional layups and shots in the paint.
This is the Davis the Lakers need in order to make the playoffs and do some damage there.
Jarred Vanderbilt: A-plus
Vanderbilt changed the complexion of this game, starting late in the second quarter.
He was everywhere. He was a terror on the boards to the tune of 17 rebounds, a defensive pest whose size and length bothered Luka Doncic time and again and a human can of Red Bull in general.
Vanderbilt also scored 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, with most of those points coming off fast breaks and movement in L.A.’s set offense. Thanks in part to his activity, the team scored 24 fast-break points to swing the tempo of the game in its favor.
It is amazing the Lakers were able to get three impact players: Russell, Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley; for Russell Westbrook; two little-used players, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones; plus a lottery-protected first-round draft pick.
LeBron James: B-plus
James’ outside shot simply wasn’t falling; he went 1-of-6 from downtown, and almost none of his shots overall were going through the hoop early.
But that improved in the second quarter, and like Davis, he improved as time went on in the second half.
In the second half, James appeared to injure his right foot or ankle. He remained in the game and appeared to have some trouble accelerating and changing directions in the open court, but he still managed to be effective.
He started posting up and using his footwork to his advantage in the fourth quarter, as he fooled the Mavs into going for a couple of shot fakes that set up easy layups.
Overall, James finished with 26 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal and one blocked shot. It wasn’t a very efficient game for him, but it was definitely a winning effort for him in multiple ways.
Dennis Schroder: B-plus
Schroder gained the start instead of the injured Russell, and he made an impact with 16 points, eight assists and just one turnover. He was 5-of-12 from the field and missed all four of his 3-point attempts, but he made big shots and plays when the Lakers needed them.
In the fourth quarter, with James not 100%, Schroder brought the ball up the court most of the time, and defensively he hounded the Mavs’ ball-handlers as they attempted to do the same.
Malik Beasley: C-minus
Beasley went 3-of-14 overall and 2-of-11 from 3-point range on Sunday. However, he contributed in other ways.
He was somewhat active on defense, which resulted in him getting two steals, and he managed to notch four assists.
The onetime Florida State University standout is a streaky and inconsistent shooter, so Lakers fans can expect quite a few poor shooting games like this one from him. But as long as he makes a concerted effort defensively and moves the ball around while hitting big shots at timely moments, he can still help the team win.
Rui Hachimura: D
Hachimura played just 11 minutes, as head coach Darvin Ham rode his starters. The Japan native was 1-of-5 from the field and grabbed two rebounds.
Troy Brown Jr.: C
In 20 minutes, Brown went 2-of-6 overall and 1-of-4 from beyond the arc. He finished with five points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Mo Bamba: C
Bamba was on the court for six minutes of playing time, and he managed three rebounds but went scoreless. He made one shot attempt.
Austin Reaves: B
Reaves was the Lakers’ only reserve who was effective on Sunday. He scored nine points on 3-of-6 shooting and added three rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes, and he was one of several scrappers who helped them get back into the game and win.
Early in the fourth quarter, he got into it with the Mavs’ Josh Green after Green forced him into committing a turnover. Green shoved him, and Reaves hurled a couple of expletives back at the Mavs’ wing.
Lonnie Walker: D
Walker played six minutes, all in the first half, and he missed both of his shot attempts. His only contribution on the stat sheet was one rebound.
