LeBron James and Malik Monk the duo that guides the

LeBron James and Malik Monk, the duo that guides the Los Angeles Lakers | NBA.com Mexico | The Official Site of the NBA

by

Los angeles lakers seem to have found the ideal side to Lebron James. With Anthony Davis injured and a Russell Westbrook who was again very imprecise with the shot (7-19 from the field), that role was again occupied. Malik Monk. And with that James-Monk as a flag, those of Vogel managed to surpass the Sacramento kings for 122-114, thus achieving his fourth victory in the last five presentations.

James finished as the game’s leading scorer with 31 points, while Monk followed with 24 and 6-11 on 3s. And not only that: they had a decisive burst in the clutch to tip in favor of the Lakers a game that had been totally even until then.

The LeBron thing is a continuity of the phenomenal offensive moment that Akron is going through, but the Monk thing should also be highlighted: Since his return to the courts, the former Charlotte averages 20.6 points with a spectacular 45% from 3-pointers. There is no doubt: today it is Monk and none of the other strongest names on the squad, the one with the most consistent and outstanding contribution outside of the King.

In the winner we also saw a very good performance from a couple of substitutes: Talen Horton-Tucker had 19 points, 6 assists and a 9-13 from the field, while Dwight Howard returned to the rotation and added 14 points and 14 rebounds in just under 22 minutes.

In Sacramento it did not reach the very good night of De’Aaron Fox (30 points) and Buddy Hield (26 points), who combined 56 points and a 9-17 in triples. The problem is that outside of them there was very little to highlight (no one exceeded 14), while Gentry’s gave enormous defensive advantages as throughout the season.

The Lakers improved their record to 20-19 and they came seventh in the West, while the Kings fell to 16-23 and remain tenth.

Statistics | Play by play | Highlights

Team 1 C 2 C 3C 4C Total
Los angeles lakers 26 31 28 37 122
Sacramento kings 31 28 24 31 114

1st Quarter: Sacramento strikes the first blow

The Lakers open with Russell Westbrook, Avery Bradley, Malik Monk, Trevor Ariza and LeBron James, again resorting to a very low formation. Sacramento dating De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley and Damian Jones.

The Kings took advantage of a totally imprecise start in attack by the Lakers to quickly escape 9-1. However, with penetrations from an irregular Westbrook and an explosive definition plus a triple from LeBron, the locals began to get into the game, leveling the process. Averaging the first period, the visit is imposed by 15-13.

After that reaction from the Lakers, Sacramento took control of the game again. In attack, the Kings take advantage of the lack of a classic interior in the Lakers (Howard joined later) to charge the offensive rebound and reach the rim with the explosion of Fox. On the other hand, Los Angeles adds with Monk (7) and a good income from Talen Horton-Tucker (6), but at the same time, it is complicated with a too imprecise Westbrook: 1-7 from the field and already with a technical foul.

Sacramento wins 31-26 after 12 minutes.

2nd Quarter: The bench drives the Lakers

The Lakers bench has changed the game. Vogel abandoned the small-ball and bet on large formations, in which Howard and Horton-Tucker become giants in the paint of the Kings: 25 points between them! Sacramento’s defense makes water on all sides and its perimeters do not provide solutions in attack either, with the exception of Fox. The Lakers come to command the scoreboard, although the difference is still manageable for the visit.

When it looked like the Lakers would go into halftime with an advantage, Fox’s scoring blast appeared, to expose a Laker defense that also gives many advantages: no less than 19 points for Fox with an 8-12 from the court, while Buddy Hield has brought 15 points from Gentry’s second unit. The Kings closed the first half much better and led 59-57.

3rd Quarter: All open for the final 12

Good passage from the Kings, who move away with more points from a Fox that is an unsolvable problem for the Lakers, as well as the triple success of Hield and Barnes. The local responds with an offensive burst from Monk, but averaging the third, Sacramento prevails by four units, finding many freedoms against the Los Angeles defense.

Melo’s scoring streak, so that this time it is the Lakers who close the quarter better, entering the final 12 minutes ahead 85-83. All in a context in which both teams felt the breaks of their figures (James and Fox), taking the game to a stretch of many decisions as hasty as they were imprecise.

4th Quarter: LeBron secures victory

Davion Mitchell gives the Kings a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter opener. Great passage of the rookie on both sides of the court, taking offensive fouls, recovering balls and scoring a pair of floats in the heart of the painting. Also falls a triple from a Haliburton that came with the rim closed and the visit goes ahead by 96-89.

Malik Monk to the rescue! The Lakers guard is still on as in the last games and with two triples he brings Vogel’s men closer to the minimum: 102-101 Sacramento, with just under 6 minutes remaining.

LeBron James Secures Another Laker Win! Enormous closing of the King, to pure triple and attack to the paint, to guide Los Angeles to its fourth victory in the last five presentations. Vogel’s men did not have a brilliant performance, but between James and Monk they combined 55 points, to stay with the victory 122-114.

The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA or its organizations.

We would love to say thanks to the author of this short article for this remarkable web content

LeBron James and Malik Monk, the duo that guides the Los Angeles Lakers | NBA.com Mexico | The Official Site of the NBA

Related posts:

Ball in the air! Countdown to the U19 World Cup - COVER - NEWS
EBA: The best U22 of the week
Chola and Laguneros win the Basketball Champions Cup at the start - Momento Deportivo RD
Brooklyn comes back against some Warriors who continue to take a nap