For the first time since 2017, the Lakers picked up a win in Philadelphia on Sunday, 112-108.
Luka Dončić had a triple-double in his return to the lineup and LeBron James scored 12 fourth-quarter points,
including five in the final two minutes of the game to seal the win.
Luka opened the game with a midrange jumper. The Sixers quickly responded with two 3-pointers in a row. The teams started trading baskets until Philadelphia began gaining momentum and jumped ahead by eight.
LA responded well with Ayton scoring four points in a row. Los Angeles was shooting 38% from the field while the Sixers were shooting 42%.
The Lakers surged back into the game with a big 12-4 scoring run to close the quarter, stealing all the momentum. Luka was in double figures with 10 points. Hachimura had eight points and drained two 3-pointers. At the end of the 1st, it was a tie game.
Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe converted on a midrange jumper to start the second period. LeBron scored four quick points, putting his side up by one.
Jared McCain went on a mini run, scoring five points. Los Angeles lost the lead amidst a two-minute scoring drought.
Luke ended the drought with a runner in the paint. It led to Reaves finally seeing the ball go through the hoop, scoring five quick points.
LA’s defense was strong, holding Joel Embiid and Paul George to single-digit scoring. Philadelphia was on a two-minute scoring drought until Tyrese Maxey drained a 3-pointer. Luka knocked down a 3-pointer to end the quarter.
At halftime, the purple and gold were down by seven.
LeBron opened the second half doing a bit of everything. He scored seven points and found Hachimura with a lob for a dunk. LA quickly found themselves within one. All five starters were in double figures for Los Angeles.
Philadelphia was shooting a rough 26% in the quarter. The Lakers took the lead by five on an 11-3 scoring run.
After LA had extended its lead to eight, the Sixers cut the deficit to four with Andre Drummond making an impact. LaRavia drained a 3-pointer to stop that small bit of momentum.
Los Angeles closed the quarter on a two-minute scoring drought. The 76ers scored a quick five points to make it a three-point deficit going into the fourth period.
Gabe Vincent started the final frame with a 3-pointer. Philadelphia then managed to make it a two-point game on the shoulders of Edgecombe and Maxey. Out of a timeout, Ayton converted on a dunk.
At the 4:53 mark, the Lakers were up by four.
LeBron had a quick surge with five points. Quentin Grimes then drained a 3-pointer. Embiid tied the game with a jumper. LeBron then knocked down an insane 3-pointer, putting LA back up by three.
His clutch performance continued with a fadeaway shot that essentially put the game in the refrigerator. Maxey did connect on a late 3-pointer, but it didn’t matter as Luka converted on both free throws to seal the win.
Key Player Stats
Luka Dončić ended with a triple-double, scoring 31 points with 15 rebounds and 11 assists. LeBron James had 29 points with seven rebounds and six assists. Austin Reaves pitched in with 11 points, four rebounds and five assists.
Rui Hachimura scored 17 points with six rebounds. Deandre Ayton had 14 points with 12 rebounds.
The Lakers’ next matchup is the NBA Cup Quarter-final game against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at 7:30 PM PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
