Lakers Beat Hornets 112-107 as Davis Shines
The Lakers almost let a big lead slip away in Charlotte. However, they held on for a 112-107 win thanks to Anthony Davis’s outstanding night. What started as a blowout turned into a nail-biter by the fourth quarter.
The Lakers are 1 game back of the 4th seed 😳
Are we different this year? pic.twitter.com/3KfZWs1J71
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) January 28, 2025
Lakers Start Hot in Charlotte
First, the Lakers showed why they’re on a roll. After big wins against Boston and Golden State, they came out firing. As a result, they jumped to a huge lead in the first quarter, outscoring the Hornets 39-19.
Game Shifts After Strong Start
But then, the Lakers took their foot off the gas. This allowed the Hornets to gain some confidence in the second quarter.
Things changed even more when Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball left with an injury. Though this gave LA a chance to rest, they might have relaxed too much. Soon after, the Hornets cut the lead to single digits in the third.
Davis Takes Over
Meanwhile, Anthony Davis put on a show. The Hornets simply couldn’t stop him. In the end, he piled up 42 points and grabbed 23 rebounds. Together with LeBron James, they controlled the paint. Consequently, the Lakers scored 66 points inside.
Room for Improvement
Still, some problems showed up in the win. For instance, LA turned the ball over 16 times. Most of these were unforced errors. Additionally, without Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent playing, the Lakers were missing some scoring and bucket-getters.
Lakers Finding Their Way
Despite the ups and downs, a clear pattern is emerging. First off, the Lakers are becoming a tough defensive team. Furthermore, they’re dominating teams inside the paint. Yet the close finish shows they must stay focused for all 48 minutes. Above all, if they can fix these issues, they could become a serious threat in the playoffs.
