Lakers player grades: The Purple and Gold continue to roll
Just two days after getting a huge statement win over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Los Angeles Lakers went into the nation’s capital looking to continue their momentum against the Washington Wizards.
They did just that, as they ran up a big lead and coasted to a 130-119 win over Kyle Kuzma and company.
Bradley Beal, the Wizards’ main star, left in the first half with a hamstring ailment and didn’t return, and Los Angeles took advantage, getting out to as much as a 29-point lead.
The Lakers got a bit complacent in the fourth quarter, as Washington trimmed their lead to nine, but LeBron James and Anthony Davis were just too much for the home team.
Davis led the way with one of the best games of his life: 55 points, 17 rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Lakers are now 2-0 on their six-game East Coast road trip. They will take on the ascendant Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Anthony Davis: A+
Davis not only scored 55 points, but he did so very efficiently. He went 22-of-30 from the field, hit all nine of his free throws and even made 2-of-3 from 3-point range.
Los Angeles is making it a point of emphasis to feed Davis early and often, and Davis is taking full advantage of his offensive opportunities. He’s feasting in the paint, and his perimeter jumper is also falling with regularity.
LeBron James: A-
James was listed as questionable due to a tweaked ankle he sustained on Friday, and he appeared to aggravate it in the fourth quarter.
But he showed no ill effects of the ailment, as he 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists. He shot a solid 12-of-26 from the field, but the only blemish was his 2-of-7 shooting from downtown and his five turnovers.
All in all, it was an effective performance from James.
Patrick Beverley: D+
Despite the Lakers’ strong play of late, Beverley’s inability to give them any real production offensively is a concern. He missed all four of his shot attempts and scored just one point on a free throw while contributing four rebounds, one assist and one steal.
Dennis Schroder: B
Schroder was quiet offensively, scoring four points on 2-of-5 shooting in 30 minutes, but he did a very good job of setting up his teammates. He notched eight assists against just two turnovers to go along with two rebounds and two steals.
His ability to create fast-break opportunities with his speed will help reduce James’ workload as the season wears on.
Lonnie Walker IV: A
Walker continued his strong offensive play by shooting 7-of-10 from the field and hitting all four of his 3-point attempts, giving him 20 points in just 25 minutes.
At this point, he is clearly the Lakers’ third-best offensive player.
Wenyen Gabriel: B-
Gabriel didn’t score in nine minutes, but he did get two rebounds and block one shot.
Troy Brown Jr.: B
After starting his previous 16 contests, Brown came off the bench on Sunday. He hit 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and finished with six points, two assists and one rebound in 17 minutes.
Thomas Bryant: B
Bryant had some trouble preventing the Wizards from scoring near the rim. But he did grab five rebounds and score four points on 2-of-4 shooting in 10 minutes, although he missed all four of his free throw attempts.
Russell Westbrook: B+
This wasn’t an offensive-minded game for Westbrook, as he scored only six points on 3-of-8 shooting in 29 minutes, but his 15 assists and seven rebounds keyed L.A.’s attack.
Westbrook did commit six turnovers, but he had so many dimes that they helped cancel out his mistakes.
Austin Reaves: B-
This was another quiet game for the second-year undrafted man. He made 2-of-4 shots and scored just five points in 25 minutes to go along with three rebounds.
