LeBron James and Anthony Davis power Lakers to win | College News

TORONTO —  The people right here know.

For the seventy fifth time in his NBA profession, LeBron James stepped onto a court docket to face the Toronto Raptors. And earlier than Friday, James’ staff had received 56 of them, together with a trio of playoff sequence.

Still, the followers in Toronto at all times take pleasure in James’ annual look in Canada, cheering every time as he enters the sport — solely to watch him depart city with one other win.

Friday, it was a 14-point first quarter to set the tone, James casually bullying a younger Toronto staff early earlier than the Lakers held on to win 131-125.

Before the sport, James bounced within the locker room, the sickness that slowed him over the previous week largely out of his system. He arrived on the enviornment carrying the Ghostface masks from “Scream” and wasted little time terrorizing the Raptors although Halloween was a day earlier.

Coming off of their first two losses of the season, James and the Lakers recommitted to a lot of the ideas coach JJ Redick has tried to instill in them early this season.

“We played extremely well,” Anthony Davis mentioned. “The ball was moving. We’re getting good looks, great opportunities for one another. Our defense was phenomenal. Everything that we talked about from our two losses we went on to execute in the first half. And if we play like that, we’ll be a tough team to beat.”

Stagnant in opposition to Cleveland on Wednesday, the Lakers opened Friday’s sport with tempo and precision and rapidly ran out to a 21-point lead, Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic angrily calling timeouts each few possessions.

But whereas the Lakers led by 25 at halftime, the Raptors have been removed from by means of, climbing back into the sport and getting within single digits a number of instances within the second half.

But James’ play-making — he had 27 factors and 10 assists — mixed with huge photographs from Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell and a return to type for Davis all saved the Raptors from ever pushing in entrance.

“Today we took two steps forward,” James mentioned. “That’s a good sign for our ballclub.”

Gradey Dick scored 31 factors and had a look to cut it to three with much less than a minute, however the shot rimmed out. RJ Barrett scored 33 to lead the Raptors, with Toronto enjoying with out starters Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley.

Davis made a pair of free throws to ice the Lakers’ fourth win of the season. He led the Lakers with 38 factors and 12 rebounds. Davis has scored at the very least 30 in every of the 4 Lakers wins.

While the sport obtained tight within the second half after Toronto outscored the Lakers by 14 within the third quarter, the one significant hiccup got here within the second when Austin Reaves rolled his ankle and had to return to the locker room.

He was in a position to play within the second half, although he confirmed some indicators of discomfort.

“We won, so, that’s all that matters,” Reaves mentioned. “First couple minutes after rolling it I was in some pain, but got to come back here, do a little treatment, move around and I felt good.”

The Lakers are nonetheless with out Christian Wood and Jared Vanderbilt because the pair get well from offseason surgical procedures. Redick mentioned Vanderbilt was progressing, however he wasn’t close to enjoying.

“He’s had some minor discomfort, no setbacks. I think the discomfort is normal as he’s ramped up his activities on the court given that he’s coming off two surgeries,” Redick mentioned earlier than the sport. “But yeah, he’s progressing. But I don’t think he’s a day or two away from playing. We’ll have another update in a week or so.”

The Lakers’ journey continues Monday in Detroit in opposition to the Pistons.

Davis mentioned the sport, like Friday’s, is important.

“We need to win games,” Davis mentioned. “We lost two in a row. We lost beating ourselves. So, I think we’re very capable of putting pressure on ourselves to have games where it’s a must win.”