Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony Davis’ top five games of 2019-20

1. Dec. 8, 2019: Davis pacers Lakers’ offense in high-scoring win over Minnesota Timberwolves

The Lakers came into this matchup with a 20-3 record while the Minnesota Timberwolves were one game below the .500 mark. The Timberwolves did keep things close in the first half, as they trailed 73-65 after the first 24 minutes of action.

As expected, the Lakers proved to be too much for their counterparts in the second half, as they went on to win 142-125, their fourth straight during a six-game win streak. While the outcome was never seriously in doubt, Davis’ stat line was one for the ages.

He dropped a 50-point masterpiece on 20-for-29 shooting from the field and shot a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. Davis also tallied seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and one block.

With LeBron James contributing 32 points, this was the most points scored by a pair of Lakers teammates since Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol combined for 92 points against the New York Knicks back in February 2009.

Davis produced a 50-point outing in his 23rd game with the purple and gold. Only James (16th) and Cedric Ceballos (22nd) accomplished the feat in fewer games. It is worth mentioning that Davis did not hit a single 3-point shot in this performance.

Over the past decade, there have been four instances in which players have reached the 50-point plateau without hitting a 3-pointer four times. Anthony Davis is responsible for three of those occurrences.

Sharpshooters such as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as well as James Harden have led to the 3-point shot becoming a focal point in today’s NBA. However, Davis continues to prove that big men can still be effective in an era in which their role has become an afterthought.