Lakers Lead Raptors at the Half, 58-49 (videos)
By Mike Garcia
The Lakers got off to a slow start. Kyle Lowry found his jumpshot early to give the Raptors a quick 6-2 lead. Boozer was aggressive early, and came out with a quick 8 points of his own, all from midrange.
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The Raptors lost a key player prior to the Laker game, DeMar DeRozan. His injury puts him out for other a month. In his place, Louis Williams stepped in. This year for the Raptors, he’s averaging 14.3 points per game on 44.9% from the field, 40.9% behind the arc, in just 20.9 minutes of play.
This gave Greivis Vasquez the start, placing Lowry in an off-ball role.
After Jeremy Lin hit a three-pointer, both teams cooled off a bit. Ed Davis and Nick Young were subbed in at the 4:42 mark, where Nick Young made an immediate impact with a three-pointer.
Lin's 3 gives the Lakers the lead https://t.co/KvaEnFCtRz
— Mike Garcia (@CanyonDriver) December 1, 2014
Kobe Bryant wasn’t being his passive self. He looked to create his own shot as well, with a mid-range fadeaway at the free throw area, and another along the baseline against Terrence Ross. He finished the first quarter with four consecutive field goals.
Kobe with the baseline J in I so. https://t.co/4asik3w2ao
— Mike Garcia (@CanyonDriver) December 1, 2014
The Lakers have the lead, 27-24.
The Lakers continued their hot shooting. Into the second quarter, the Lakers were shooting 61% from the field and hit 4 of 7 behind the arc. Ellington started off hot with a couple of made three-pointers.
The Raptors stepped up their aggression halfway through the quarter. They led the Lakers in points in the paint, 30 – 4. It’s a reflection of poor help defense in the paint, as well as lack of containment from the perimeter.
Kobe was in a facilitating mode, and found Boozer a couple times.
Boozer baseline J from Kobe assist https://t.co/OYMSCHaEas
— Mike Garcia (@CanyonDriver) December 1, 2014
Kobe no look to Boozer! https://t.co/vRz9MqZqZR
— Mike Garcia (@CanyonDriver) December 1, 2014
Kobe continued his facilitating, hitting Jordan Hill with a sweet behind the back pass for his seventh assist.
Kobe behind the back to Jordan Hill for the dunk! https://t.co/pldAM1M9Zc
— Mike Garcia (@CanyonDriver) December 1, 2014
Both teams continued to play uninspired defense as both teams shot well from the field at the half.
The score at the half: Lakers 58, Raptors 49.