D’Angelo Russell’s 44-point outing pushes Lakers past Bucks.
A swift display of perfect basketball delivered the Lakers' fate. D’Angelo Russell delivered 44 points and gave the Lakers a one-point lead with 5.9 seconds left, followed by a game-sealing block from Spencer Dinwiddie on a Damian Lillard step-back.
“I never lacked confidence; I never feared confrontation, I want all the smoke,” Russell said. “I just feel confident in what I bring to the basketball game.”
The 123-122 win over the Bucks came on a night with LeBron James out of the lineup after re-aggravated an ankle injury in Wednesday’s loss to the Kings.
Russell’s high-scoring night was the most he’s ever scored in a Lakers uniform and the second most of his career (52 points in 2019).
His 21 points scored in the fourth quarter were a ridiculous backpack-carrying performance that will stay in the memories of many Lakers fans who witnessed it.
This season, Russell has been benched, criticized, and the subject of countless trade rumors, but he has remained professional and consistent as the third scoring option behind James and Anthony Davis.
“Public humiliation has molded me into the killer that y’all see today,” Russell said.
In nine games since the all-star break, Russell has averaged 22 points.
Dinwiddie has been impactful for Los Angeles, but in the least sexy way, and that’s on the defensive end. His numbers won't tell you the true impact he has had, and that’s the defensive impact, deflections, positioning, and high-IQ basketball.
“Getting the ball is fun. But that’s not what this team needs. This team needs me to buy into the defensive side and help out. Willing to do anything to help this team win a championship,” Dinwiddie said.
In 33 minutes in his first start as a Lakers, Dinwiddie scored five points, three assists, two rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.
L.A. kept it competitive throughout but kept their shooting numbers high, shooting 47.1% (16-for-34) from three and 52% (47-for-90) overall, and limited their turnovers to five.
Davis finished second on the team, scoring 22 points on 10-for-21 with 13 rebounds.
The Lakers improved their record to 35–30, still remaining 9th in the West, a half-game in front of the Warriors (33–29).
L.A. will look to continue its momentum against a red-hot 44-20 Minnesota Timberwolves this Sunday at home in front of their Crypto.com Arena fans at 6:30 p.m.
