You can own LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis on the court seconds from the end of overtime in a sweltering game in Dallas but ultimately rely on a 23-year-old rookie who hadn’t even been picked. in the sixty choices of the last draft. Such was the fate of the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, who won at the American Airlines Center thanks to an award-winning basket from the former University of Oklahoma player nine tenths from the end of overtime (107- 104).
The 23-year-old simply had the best game of his NBA career with personal best minutes (32) and points (15). His performance behind the arc was stunning (5 out of 6 when he was shooting 30% last year at college level), making that final shot a little less surprising and his “shower” for his return to the well-deserved Lakers locker room.
The stars of the Lakers had done most of their work before this last action. Westbrook came close to the triple double with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. While LeBron James scored 24 points and grabbed 3 rebounds. Davis, he offered a more contrasting performance with six ball losses, but also 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Still deprived of Luka Doncic, hit in an ankle, the Mavericks relied on Kristaps Porzingis (23 points and 12 rebounds) and Jalen Brunson (25 points, 9 assists). In vain since Los Angeles obtained its sixth victory in eight matches (16 wins-13 losses this season) while Dallas is now back in balance (14 v.-14 d.).
