Anthony Davis scores 27 as Lakers snap 5-game losing streak vs. Nets
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers scores a basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of the game at Crypto.com Arena on November 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) shoots against Brooklyn Nets forward Nic Claxton (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Matt Ryan (37) shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Brooklyn Nets forward Markieff Morris (13) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Wenyen Gabriel (35) shoots against Brooklyn Nets forward Royce O’Neale (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James holds a ball on the sideline during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots against Brooklyn Nets forward Yuta Watanabe (18) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook, right, blocks a shot by Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers blocks a layup by Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of the game at Crypto.com Arena on November 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Edmond Sumner #4 of the Brooklyn Nets scores a basket against Lonnie Walker IV #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of the game at Crypto.com Arena on November 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets shoos a basket against Patrick Beverley #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of the game at Crypto.com Arena on November 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on November 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — His first season in Los Angeles was a dream, played out all the way to a championship at the end. Since those salad days, Anthony Davis has seen his reputation – even among his home fans – curdle with the disappointment of injury and defeat.
But Davis can still put a team on his back now and then. And on Sunday, needing a win in the worst way, the Lakers needed the big man to carry them.
Davis took the lead on offense against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, scoring a game-high 37 points in a 116-103 win. It snapped a five-game losing streak, pulling the oft-luckless Lakers (3-10) a little further from rock bottom in the NBA standings despite missing LeBron James.
In the losing streak, Davis has taken criticism for disappearing from the offense, especially in the second half of games. But the 29-year-old played as aggressively as he has all year on offense to leave no doubt. It was his highest scoring game since May 5, 2021 when he scored 42 points against Phoenix – and a home crowd hungry for wins was grateful for the throwback performance.
Lonnie Walker IV played a more assertive second scorer, notching 25 points (including four 3-pointers), while Russell Westbrook took on the primary playmaker role with 12 assists despite needing 15 shots to score his 14 points.
Perhaps most critically, the Nets – without Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons and Seth Curry – left the door open for the Lakers to break through with an ugly shooting night. They were just 7 for 27 from deep, bested by the Lakers’ 11 for 27 mark. Kevin Durant wound up with 31 points, but had a hard time getting his shots against the Lakers’ ball-denial defense.
Davis is no stranger to criticism that he can disappear at key moments. But against the Nets, the big man seemed determined to take no prisoners. The entire night, he took only two of his 25 shots outside the paint.
Eschewing the “take what the defense gives me” philosophy, Davis played battering ram: He fought his way to the rim through double-teams, bullying through Nic Claxton and his former teammate Markieff Morris. By halftime, he had already notched a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double.
But that wasn’t enough for Davis, who tried to push the Lakers past their run of third-quarter struggles single-handedly. He had 15 points on 7 for 10 shooting in that frame alone, narrowly besting Durant’s 13 points in the third quarter.
But that wasn’t enough for the Lakers to avoid a letdown in their worst period: They had a game-best 16 point lead off a Walker 3-pointer with four minutes to go. Including nine points from Durant, the Nets closed off the period with a 16-3 run, summoning old fears and foibles back to the forefront for the shaky late-game Lakers.
Westbrook vs. Durant has been a saucy match-up since 2016, when Durant left Oklahoma City and his teammate behind for Golden State. The two former MVPs had a few highlights to stir up the crowd, including a first-quarter block from behind by Westbrook that sent Durant sprawling to the floor.
Durant eventually got the better of Westbrook at the rim with a block – but Westbrook took the edge by improving to a 6-5 record when the two meet head-to-head.
