42-23: behind the numbers making Lakers fans believe again
The Lakers are on a roll, enjoying an unusually good stretch thanks to a favorable schedule and a string of wins—something unseen in recent years for a franchise so often mired in struggle. Their record now stands at 26-18, putting them eight games over .500 for the first time since the start of the 2020-21 season, when the team dominated before injuries derailed their momentum just months after winning the championship. Regardless of the competition, the Lakers’ current form is undeniably strong. In Charlotte, they secured their fourth consecutive win and sixth in their last seven games, consolidating their position in fifth place – just ahead of the Clippers – and even putting pressure on the Nuggets in fourth.
That fourth spot, of course, offers home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs – a distant and hypothetical goal for now, but the fact that it’s even on the radar underscores the team’s clear improvement.
Davis on fire for Lakers against Hornets
The win against the Hornets was harder than expected (107-112), but it counts just the same. The Lakers dominated the first quarter (19-39) and led by as many as 23 points, but complacency allowed their opponents to close the gap dangerously (84-86) early in the final period. Even so, the Lakers regained control in the closing moments, though head coach JJ Redick had to keep his starters on the court until the final buzzer sealed the victory.
The Lakers now have a chance to extend their good form in upcoming matchups against the Sixers and Wizards before facing tougher tests: back-to-back road games against the Knicks and Clippers. Those games will reveal more about where this team truly stands. For now, though, they’re winning more than in recent years – a low bar, perhaps, but a meaningful step forward.
Anthony Davis led the charge with an extraordinary performance. The big man, who has long expressed a preference to play power forward rather than center (despite his success in the latter role), delivered 42 points and 23 rebounds (eight of them offensive), along with two assists and two blocks. He shot 17-for-28 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free-throw line. The Hornets had no answer for him. Miles Bridges managed 26 points but went just 2-for-11 from three, Vasilije Micic added 11 points with two rebounds and four assists but committed five turnovers, and Josh Okogie chipped in 19.
The Hornets also suffered a major setback when LaMelo Ball left the game in the first quarter. With less than nine minutes on the clock, Ball accidentally stepped on Jarred Vanderbilt’s foot while retreating on defense and twisted his knee, forcing him to exit early. This injury gave the Lakers more freedom to focus on Charlotte’s remaining players, who struggled without Ball’s perimeter presence.
LeBron being LeBron as Lakers keep streak going
Beyond Davis, LeBron James contributed 22 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, though he also had five turnovers and went just 1-for-8 from three. Even in a somewhat underwhelming performance by his standards, LeBron still managed to deliver statistical highlights, including a graphic comparison during the broadcast showing that, in less than half as many games played as the Hornets franchise, LeBron has scored more points and dished out more assists than the entire organization. A mind-boggling stat that added some flair to an otherwise average outing for the Lakers’ star. He was supported by Austin Reaves with 17 points (along with five rebounds, six assists, and three steals) and Max Christie with 10 points.
