Returning to Cleveland is always a spectacle for King James. Fans in the city still support James- on and off the court. The reunion is sweet until the tip-off ensues, then the business is conducted. A showdown between Donovan Mitchell and the Lakers enticed fans inside the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The Cavaliers were hungry to add another victory to their total, while the Lakers looked forward to another dominant showing from AD.
It hasn’t been easy, but the Lakers are finding their groove. Victories over the Wizards, Bucks, and Trail Blazers are an improvement from their rugged start to the new campaign. Five consecutive losses concerned the fans who expected different results than the previous season. Adjustments to the rotation provided a solution for Los Angeles – resulting in fewer minutes on the floor for their veteran guard.
Transitioning to a different role gave Westbrook a fresh start – giving the Lakers new life on the court. No.0 is averaging the fewest minutes on the court in his career this season (28), but he’s making the most of it. His fifteen points, eleven assists, and seven rebounds were clutch against Giannis and the Bucks. A duel against another strong Eastern Conference opponent would require Westbrook to perform well again to give the Lakers a shot at victory.
Lakers: Anthony Davis leaves with flu in the first quarter – Donovan Mitchell explodes
Defeating the Cavaliers at home required all hands on deck. Flu symptoms sidelined Anthony Davis eight minutes into the game – leaving Los Angeles without their leading scorer (28.6) for the evening. A 27-26 Cavalier lead grew to eight points by the end of the second quarter.
Westbrook and James continued to play hard with hopes of completing a comeback. Mitchell was the catalyst to an impressive Cavalier run. His aggression in the lane was unmatched – leading to multiple and-one buckets.
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The Lakers outscored Cleveland in the third quarter (34-28) but struggled to contain the spider in the closing quarter. No.45 abused the paint, driving relentlessly – converting consecutive baskets. Contributions from Troy Brown helped the Lakers score in the fourth but were shy of completing the comeback. Donovan Mitchell finished with forty-three points, six rebounds, and five assists.
The Lakers have more confidence when Anthony Davis is on the court. Cleveland scored seventy points in the paint in his absence – a weak spot for Darvin Ham’s squad. Explosive outings are required for the Lakers to win and Los Angeles must find a way to keep their big man healthy.