James and Davis spearhead 4th-quarter rally as Lakers resist 76ers’ challenge

The Los Angeles Lakers won a hard-fought victory against the Philadelphia 76ers 101-94 in the NBA on Friday night. Anthony Davis scored 23 points while adding 19 rebounds and D’Angelo Russell set a new Lakers season record for three-pointers. The win ended the Lakers’ seven-game losing streak against the 76ers.

LeBron James and Davis played pivotal roles in securing the victory, contributing to the turnaround in the fourth quarter. James received praise for his defensive play in the second half, as he ended the game with 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Despite the victory, he acknowledged the team’s errors as they committed 21 turnovers, making it their lowest-scoring performance since January 3.

The record-setting game from Russell proved instrumental in the victory. He surpassed Nick Van Exel’s 1994-95 season record when he hit his 184th three-pointer in the first quarter. The former Laker, who returned to the squad following a trade, contributed 14 points and four three-pointers. Reflecting on his landmark achievement, Russell expressed gratitude and the desire to continue making an impact on his team.

Russell’s accomplishment comes as both teams struggled to create a significant point difference throughout the game. Philadelphia’s physical defense and the Lakers’ shooting struggles kept the game close, with neither team leading by more than seven points until James’ first three-pointer of the night. Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse expressed disappointment at his team’s inability to capitalize on their hard-fought executions.

The Philadelphia 76ers, on the other hand, have been faring poorly recently, having lost seven out of their last 10 games. This can be attributed partly to the absence of their MVP Joel Embiid. Despite the setback, Tyrese Maxey stood out for the Sixers, scoring 22 of his 27 points in the second half. Tobias Harris also returned to the game after sitting out due to a sprained right ankle, scoring 16 points while adding 13 rebounds. Despite this, Harris acknowledged the need for the team to generate better offense.