The Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t wait to get back to the Staples Center for their matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Maybe it was to erase the memory of the most embarrassing loss in franchise history blowing the largest lead (26 points!) to the OKC Thunder in 25 years.
For about three and a half quarters, it looked like it was going to be a repeat clunker performance, but thanks to LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Austin Reaves (YES! Austin Reaves!) the Los Angeles Lakers finally woke up and ran away from the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-101.
This game was all about LeBron James. Some like him and some hate him, but his influence on a basketball court throughout his career cannot be denied. The Cavaliers franchise is identified by his success and will be for a long time.
For the Lakers, his return somewhat righted a ship that was sinking in the mire of mediocrity and embarrassment.
The good from the Los Angeles Lakers’ win:
LeBron James returned to the lineup!
The loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder showed Lakers Nation how badly this team needs LeBron in the lineup. When he returned, not only did he come out aggressive but he was the best player on the floor for the Lake Show dropping 15 points in the first half in dominating fashion.
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— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 30, 2021
He was the best player on the floor for the Lakers scoring 26 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds and a block to be seen later.
Thank God Carmelo Anthony has a very short memory!
Carmelo Anthony had a chance to tie the game against the Thunder with ten seconds left in the game. OKC basically threw the ball to him in rhythm for a game tying 3 point shot. Melo proceeded to shoot the worst airball in his NBA career missing the basket by about five feet.
Against the Cleveland Cavaliers, he reminded the NBA world of the old adage… “Shooters shoot!”.
Boy did he! Melo drank some of his secret juice from the Memphis Grizzlies game and started dropping bombs from beyond the arc.
He was on fire in the second half scoring 18 of his 24 points to support LeBron’s attacks to the basket. He shot 9-12 from the field with six shots from the land of the extra point.
Russell Westbrook didn’t shoot the Lakers out of the game?
Russ really didn’t make the mark at point guard that this team needs in the playoffs. Sure he scored 19 points (8-13 shooting!) with 6 rebounds and 5 assists, but the offense is stagnant with him on the floor.
But give him credit, he didn’t shoot the Lakers completely out of the game from the 3 point line when they fell behind in the third quarter.