TORONTO — The individuals right here know.
For the seventy fifth time in his NBA profession, LeBron James stepped onto a court docket to face the Toronto Raptors. And earlier than Friday, James’ staff had gained 56 of them, together with a trio of playoff collection.
Nonetheless, the followers in Toronto all the time get pleasure from James’ annual look in Canada, cheering every time as he enters the sport — solely to observe him depart city with one other win.
Friday, it was a 14-point first quarter to set the tone, James casually bullying a younger Toronto staff early earlier than the Lakers held on to win 131-125.
Earlier than the sport, James bounced within the locker room, the sickness that slowed him over the previous week largely out of his system. He arrived on the enviornment sporting the Ghostface masks from “Scream” and wasted little time terrorizing the Raptors although Halloween was a day earlier.
Coming off of their first two losses of the season, James and the Lakers recommitted to loads of the rules coach JJ Redick has tried to instill in them early this season.
Stagnant towards Cleveland on Wednesday, the Lakers opened Friday’s sport with tempo and precision and rapidly ran out to a 21-point lead, Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic angrily calling timeouts each few possessions.
However whereas the Lakers led by 25 at halftime, the Raptors have been removed from by means of, climbing again into the sport and getting inside single digits a number of occasions within the second half.
However James’ play-making — he had 27 factors and 10 assists — mixed with huge pictures from Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell and a return to type for Anthony Davis all stored the Raptors from ever pushing in entrance.
Gradey Dick scored 31 factors and had a glance to chop it to 3 with lower than a minute, however the shot rimmed out. RJ Barrett scored 33 to guide the Raptors, with Toronto taking part in with out starters Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley.
Davis made a pair of free throws to ice the Lakers’ fourth win of the season. He led the Lakers with 38 factors and 12 rebounds. Davis has scored at the least 30 in every of the 4 Lakers wins.
Whereas the sport acquired tight within the second half after Toronto outscored the Lakers by 14 within the third quarter, the one significant hiccup got here within the second when Austin Reaves rolled his ankle and needed to return to the locker room.
He was in a position to play within the second half, although he confirmed some indicators of discomfort.
The Lakers are nonetheless with out Christian Wooden and Jared Vanderbilt because the pair get well from offseason surgical procedures. Redick stated Vanderbilt was progressing, however he wasn’t near taking part in.
“He’s had some minor discomfort, no setbacks. I think the discomfort is normal as he’s ramped up his activities on the court given that he’s coming off two surgeries,” Redick stated earlier than the sport. “But yeah, he’s progressing. But I don’t think he’s a day or two away from playing. We’ll have another update in a week or so.”
The Lakers’ journey continues Monday in Detroit towards the Pistons.
