Lakers buzzing on chemistry, eager for chance to reach .500 against Knicks
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, left, celebrates with guard Austin Reaves after making a 3-point shot during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell, center, celebrates with his teammates during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, top center, drives to the basket during the first half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam takes a shot as the Lakers’ Jarred Vanderbilt defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, left, dribbles past Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. Russell had a team-high 28 points (5 for 8 from 3-point range) and nine assists, leading the Lakers to a 122-112 win in his return to the lineup. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Toronto Raptors’ O.G. Anunoby takes a shot as the Lakers’ Jarred Vanderbilt defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis shoots during the first half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Toronto Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby gestures after making a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell passes the ball during the first half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. Russell had a team-high 28 points (5 for 8 from 3-point range) and nine assists, leading the Lakers to a 122-112 win in his return to the lineup. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes shoots over Lakers forward Anthony Davis during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers guard Dennis Schroder scores past Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher (25) during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes takes a shot as the Lakers’ Troy Brown Jr. defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis, right, shoots over Toronto Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr., left, shoots past Lakers forward Troy Brown Jr. (7) during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell scores past Toronto Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby (3) during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. Russell had a team-high 28 points (5 for 8 from 3-point range) and nine assists, leading the Lakers to a 122-112 win in his return to the lineup. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Toronto Raptors’ Will Barton takes a shot as the Lakers’ Austin Reaves defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell dribbles past Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. Russell had a team-high 28 points (5 for 8 from 3-point range) and nine assists, leading the Lakers to a 122-112 win in his return to the lineup. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Toronto Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby shoots over Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell drives to the basket between Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl, left, and guard Fred VanVleet during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. Russell had a team-high 28 points (5 for 8 from 3-point range) and nine assists, leading the Lakers to a 122-112 win in his return to the lineup. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Toronto Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby drives past Lakers forward Anthony Davis during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis shoots over Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) and forward O.G. Anunoby (3) during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet, left, dribbles past Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, center, during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers forward Wenyen Gabriel shoots over Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl, center, tries to shoot over Lakers forward Troy Brown Jr., left, during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers guard Malik Beasley, left, reaches for a loose ball next to Toronto Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes passes the ball as Lakers guard Dennis Schroder defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves dunks in front of Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) and guard Fred VanVleet, right, during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves celebrates after scoring during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers forward Wenyen Gabriel takes a shot during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes shoots during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves takes a shot as the Toronto Raptors’ Jakob Poeltl defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam shoots as Lakers forward Wenyen Gabriel defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers forwards Jarred Vanderbilt, left, and Anthony Davis celebrate during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Wenyen Gabriel takes a shot as the Toronto Raptors’ Jakob Poeltl defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Dennis Schroder dribbles up the court during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell gestures after scoring during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis handles the ball as the Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis takes a shot during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis leaps after scoring during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, center, celebrates with forward Anthony Davis, left, and guard Austin Reaves after making a 3-pointer during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves takes a shot as the Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guards Austin Reaves, left, and D’Angelo Russell celebrate during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell celebrates a play during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell celebrates their victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Lakers star Anthony Davis gets focused before a game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO — When the fourth quarter hits, it’s time for the biggest stars to hit the floor.
Right … right?
Anthony Davis was not having his best night Friday against the Toronto Raptors, managing just five shot attempts against their scheme designed to take him out of the game plan. The Lakers had trailed by as much as 12 in the third quarter, but they were scrapping their way back with a bench-driven lineup.
When the time came for Davis’ check-in by the 8-minute mark of the fourth, Dennis Schröder made an appeal to the coaching staff: The group, which included Wenyen Gabriel and Jarred Vanderbilt as the two forwards, had rolled all the way to a four-point lead. Coach Darvin Ham looked in Davis’ direction for his input. Davis said he was fine with letting the lineup continue to play.
“It’s a good thing to see, man,” Davis said after a Saturday film session. “You sit back and, as I’m watching it, these guys are getting very comfortable. They were playing at a high level last night. And for me, seven shots, five shots, no shots, 20 shots – like, as long as we win, I’m fine, I’m happy.”
Much of the 8-3 Lakers’ record since the trade deadline can be attributed to Davis, who turned 30 on Saturday and has looked, since getting healthy, very much in his prime. In that stretch, he’s averaged a team-leading 24.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots, re-emerging as the two-way force he was on the 2020 title-winning Lakers. But beating Toronto, a fast-paced team with imposing, freakish athletes especially at forward signaled that the Lakers (33-34) now have other ways to win – which can be partially attributed to the burgeoning team chemistry of the new-look roster.
Davis pointed to the play of Dennis Schröder, who was the Lakers’ second-leading scorer when Russell was out, as an example. Coming off the bench on Friday, the point guard had another strong effort with 23 points and seven assists.
“Guys are extremely happy for one another, even if guys aren’t playing,” Davis said. “Dennis has to now come off the bench with DLo back. It’s not a thing of, ‘Well why do I have to come off the bench the way I’ve been playing?’ It’s none of that. Guys are all in for each other, and it’s showing on the floor.”
It wasn’t the first time the Lakers have seen D’Angelo Russell out with the group, but Ham said it was nice to see that a six-game layoff hadn’t disrupted the smooth fit of the 27-year-old point guard into the mix. Russell’s tempo and shooting have been a “hand-in-glove fit” for the Lakers, Ham said, but Russell’s encouragement of his teammates has been just as uplifting – even when he was out with injury.
“He’s the biggest cheerleader for his teammates, even when he was out of the lineup, the first day he stepped foot out here, you could see how the positive energy is infectious with him,” he added. “While he’s out there on the court, even though he might have it going, he’s still out there trying to make the right play.”
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As a result, the Lakers have a chance to improve to .500 for the first time this season Sunday evening when they face the New York Knicks, themselves one of the hot teams since the trade deadline. While the Knicks have now lost three straight and might be without star guard Jaylen Brunson, they rattled off nine consecutive wins recently while pushing their way into the top six of the Eastern Conference.
The Lakers could be in that position soon if things break right in the upcoming stretch. Ham gave a pained chuckle thinking back on the Lakers’ 2-10 start and how hard they’ve had to claw to get back to an even record. He and the team have learned plenty of lessons, and he said it was great to see the Lakers “go out and get the type of pieces that we know can fit around our two top players in LeBron and A.D.”
What might be the most rewarding, in a home-heavy March schedule, is that he’s noticed the fans responding, too.
“Some of the excitement I saw during the later stages – really throughout the course of this last game, in particular, the way the building was rocking,” he said. “And even the Sunday game against the Warriors and the Memphis game. You feel that energy and that excitement coming back. These are the best fans in the world, and when they know their team has a legitimate chance to be special, you feel that energy and it’s easy to feed off of.”
