Lakers beat punchless 76ers   

LOS ANGELES, California—With center Joel Embiid suspended, Anthony Davis took advantage of the Philadelphia 76ers star’s absence and scored 31 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to an easy 116-106 win at Cryprto.com Arena. 

Davis shot 11 of 20 from the floor and grabbed nine rebounds to help deliver the Lakers’ fifth win of the season. Afterward, Davis talked about his standout performance.   

“The things we talked about pregame, transition and getting back to us on both ends of the floor, I think we were able to do that,” Davis said. “Obviously, they’re missing their two big players with Joel (Embiid) and Tyrese (Maxey), but we always preach that it’s not about who we are playing, it’s about how we play. We just wanted to come out and be better on the defensive end, especially in the transition, and then be better on the offensive end with our execution. I think we did a good job with that tonight.”

The punchless 76ers, a team that has won just one game all season (1-7) was never really in this game and was outscored by the Lakers in the first three of the four quarters. Assisting Davis in the Lakers’ win was the triple-double that LeBron James came up with against the 76ers. 

James recorded 21 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in just over 33 minutes of action.

The efforts by James and Davis were just what the Lakers needed after coming off a road trip in which the team went 1-4. A change was needed as well. Lakers head coach JJ Redick removed shooting guard D’Angelo Russell from the starting lineup and replaced him with Cam Reddish.

The move by Redick paid dividends for the Lakers. Reddish, a more defensive hound, got up in Paul George’s grill all night and wouldn’t let him get off on any scoring binge. Russell, for his part, came off the bench to score 18 points in his reserve role.  

“What allowed it to work was the sacrifices that D-Lo and Cam have continued to make, and obviously the biggest sacrifice is D-Lo going to the bench,” James said. “It’s no secret that our bench has been struggling to find ways to score, and the best way to change that is to put a scorer on the bench.” 

“D-Lo came in and gave us a big-time push off the bench, and Cam did a good job of trying to make it tough on PG all night, so it was a compliment that worked on both sides, offensively and defensively for our ball club,” James added.  

It didn’t shock Redick that Russell was still able to deliver the type of performance he had despite being moved to the bench. 

“Yeah, I’m not surprised that he approached the game in the way that he did and that he had the performance he had,” Redick said. “We’ve asked him to do things. He’s been accepting of the role. He has talked with me all the time. He has a really strong desire to win, and he has a really strong desire to be coached.” 

It makes no difference to Russell whether he starts or is asked to play team ball as a reserve. The bottom line for the veteran guard is for him to help the team be successful. 

“I just wanted to win so whatever it took. Change of plans, whatever it is and whatever coach needs, just try to get the win and be a part of that,” Russell said. 

Even though he went 4 of 13 from the floor and finished the game with nine points against the Lakers, an outing that can be viewed as a porous performance, George said he felt okay. 

“Tonight was the best I felt with just being myself,” George remarked. “I think I felt back to normal in terms of rhythm. I know shots didn’t go down, but I’m not really too concerned on that. I think more so [it] was [about] getting in the right spots, being able to play make, create. That’s really what I wanted to excel in. I know the shot-making will come.”