LOS ANGELES-Crypto.com Arena was roaring with energy Wednesday night to welcome back a deeply missed Anthony Davis. Davis had been out of the lineup since December 16 with a foot injury. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 113-104, with a strong first night back for Davis.
Davis delivered a double-double against the Spurs, dropping 21 points, grabbing 12 rebounds
and coming up with four blocked shots. After the game, Davis talked about his absence and his return to the court.
“It was a long five and a half weeks,” Davis said. “Feels good to come back, get a win, and ultimately just be back on the floor with these guys.”
Davis was asked in the postgame press conference how he knew he was back in rhythm. It came quick, he said.
“In the first quarter, I was testing the water,” Davis remarked. “You know, I’ve been playing pickup and things. You can control that pace. In a real game, they’re flying down the floor. You got to sprint back
where your team is running, you have to run as well. That was kind of the ultimate test for
me…just seeing if something flared up. Do I feel any pain whatever? After that first minute…when I didn’t feel anything, I just wanted to start playing.”
Go ahead then, AD ? pic.twitter.com/51TEiNx34V
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 26, 2023
Lakers coach Darvin Ham heaped a dash of praise on Davis, saying that the forward/center changes the dynamics of the game when he is on the floor.
“He just makes the game look so easy; he takes so much pressure off us defensively, offensively…just really being aggressive and resubmerging himself into the system, into the game,” Ham said. “I thought he was phenomenal.”
Not only was it the first night back for Davis, but it was the first time he worked side by side with
teammate Lebron James and new Lakers addition Rui Hachimura. The ex-Wizard, now wearing purple and gold, scored 12 points and six rebounds in his debut. Hachimura was asked how he felt about
the positive energy Lakers fans were sending him.
“I loved it,” Hachimura. “I loved the energy there. I think defensively we were pretty good today, we
had a lot of steals.”
Hachimura was also asked what it is like transitioning to L.A. and playing alongside James and Russell Westbrook.
“It feels so weird,” he said. “You know, two days ago, I was with the Wizards and now I’m playing here. But today, I think, for me, I fit in pretty good with those guys…we were just out there hooping.”
With Davis now back, LeBron James won’t have to carry the scoring load as much. James also had a relatively quiet but impressive night with 20 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds. During the game, James moved up to ninth in all-time for three-pointers made in NBA history, passing Jamal Crawford.
James will soon break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career points record with 158 points to go. After the game, Coach Ham was asked if adding Hachimura to the roster unlocks more of a scoring part to James’ game as he comes up to Abdul-Jabbar’s record.
“It’s funny people say he’s not a scorer. He’s an elite-level scorer,” Ham said. “Hopefully, that will sink in once he eclipses that record. But his main objective is to set the table for his teammates. He’s always been a guy that prides himself on playing the right way. The eleven assists tonight speaks for that.”
This article appears courtesy of The Compton Bulletin newspaper
Feature Image: LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 25: Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) pulls up during the San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Lakers game January 25, 2023, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire)
California State University Dominguez Hills journalism major. Editor in chief of Cypress College Chronicle 2019. Born and raised in La Mirada, CA