NBA ROUNDUP: Anthony Davis leads Lakers to an easy 55-point double-double victory

 Anthony Davis was so dazzling that fans shouted ‘MVP!’ heard chanting. And that came while playing on the road.

Davis scored 55 points on blistering 22-of-30 shooting and added 17 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over the Washington Wizards 130-119 on Sunday night.

After scoring 44 points against Milwaukee in his previous game, Davis came close to his career high of 59 against Detroit in 2016. He has averaged 35.3 points in his last nine games.

Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Washington Wizards

“When you get a huge win in Milwaukee, you can’t get complacent, feel comfortable,” Davis said.

Davis was 2 of 3 on 3-pointers and made all nine of his foul shots. He scored 31 points in the second half.

LeBron James had 29 points as the Lakers won their fourth straight game. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games as they try to break away from a 2-10 start.

“Our team is stuck now,” Davis said. “Very focused on both sides of the ball. In general, we’re just trying to catch up.’

Washington lost leading scorer and three-time All-Star Bradley Beal to a hamstring injury with 8:31 to play in the first quarter. Beal sat on the bench after an early substitution, spoke to a coach and then went to the dressing room. He did not return and is from day to day.

Los Angeles led by 21 points in the first half. It was 85-56 early in the third quarter before the Wizards rallied for nine runs in the fourth.

The 6-foot-10 Davis presented a rare match in wingspan for 7-3 Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis. Both have a wingspan of 7-foot-6.

Davis – #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers – drives to the ring against the Washington Wizards

But Davis’s mobility and scoring on every level on floor helped him master the matchup on Sunday. Porzingis shot 11 of 25 for 27 points.

“If you’re talking about people in MVP race or category,[Davis]should definitely be in there,” said Lakers point guard Patrick Beverley.

The Wizards went 5-for-25 from behind the 3-point line in the first half. Three of those five marks came from backup shooting guard Corey Kispert, who finished with 16 points.

Former Laker Kyle Kuzma added 26 points for Washington before fouling.

The Lakers travel to the next game against Cleveland. A native of Akron, Ohio and a former Cleveland star, James said he will have many friends and family at the game. But he is more focused on the Lakers resurgence.

“We never knocked over the glass when things didn’t go well,” James said. “We just kept working. Went better and better. Understand that we are a new team being put together. New coaching staff, new system. We had to figure out some things. We didn’t do anything. We want to keep working.’

Davis and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate after a 130-119 win

PELICANS 121, NUGGETS 106

Jose Alvarado highlighted an exciting, career-high 38-point performance with a career-best eight 3-pointers, and the New Orleans Pelicans won their fourth straight game by beating the Denver Nuggets 121-106 on Sunday.

Alvarado, an energetic fan favorite whose production has far exceeded expectations since being pulled from Georgia Tech in 2021, came off the bench with the Pelicans trailing 14 in the first quarter and immediately scored eight points during an 11-1 New Orleans run.

And that was just the opening of a performance where fans serenaded him with football crowd-style chants with “Ole” replaced by “Jose.”

Zion Williamson scored 25 points for the Pelicans. Jonas Valanciunas added 13 points despite being limited to less than 14 minutes by foul problems. Willy Hernangomez, who played almost 20 minutes in place of Valanciunas, responded with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Nikola Jokic had 32 points and 16 rebounds for the Nuggets, who lost two straight after four straight wins.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) celebrates a three-pointer against the Nuggets

SUN 133, TRACKS 95

Deandre Ayton had 25 points and 10 rebounds as Phoenix overwhelmed San Antonio to hand the Spurs their 11th consecutive loss.

San Antonio trailed 30 points in the second quarter and is now two losses away from the franchise’s worst slip in 1989.

Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges had 20 points each as Phoenix won for the seventh time in eight games.

Keldon Johnson has 27 points for the Spurs, who have not won since November 11.

Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs

GRIZZLIES 122, PISTONS 112

Yes Morant scored 21 of his 33 points in the third quarter in Memphis’ victory over Detroit.

Morant added 10 assists to help Memphis win for the fourth time in five games. Dillon Brooks and Jars Jackson Jr. scored 22 points each and Brandon Clarke had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Saddiq Bey led Detroit with 20 points and Bojan Bogdanovic with 18.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) celebrates a made basket against the Detroit Pistons

KINGS 110, BULLS 101

Malik Monk scored 20 points off the bench and Sacramento beat Zach LaVine’s 41 points to beat Chicago.

Domantas Sabonis had 11 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists for the Kings.

Harrison Barnes had 17 points, Kevin Huerter added 12 and rookie Keegan Murray finished with 11. All five Kings starters scored in double digits.

Nikola Vucevic had 12 points and Patrick Williams finished with 10 for Chicago.

Sacramento Kings Malik Monk shoots a three-point basket as Indiana Pacers Aaron Nesmith

KNICKS 92, CAVALIERS 81

Jalen Brunson scored 23 points and New York broke a five-game home losing streak with a victory over Cleveland.

The Knicks never trailed in the game as they held an opponent under 100 points for the first time this season.

Julius Randle scored 18 points and RJ Barrett added 15 as New York held the Cavaliers to a season low and field goal percentage of 34.9%.

Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 23 points and Darius Garland had 17.

Jalen Brunson #11 prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Cavaliers

KELTICS 103, NETS 92

Jaylen Brown had 34 points and 10 rebounds, Jayson Tatum added 29 points and 11 boards, and Boston snapped Brooklyn’s four-game winning streak on a night Roger Federer was in attendance.

Kevin Durant scored 31 points for the Nets, but made eight turnovers. Kyrie Irving added 18 points and eight rebounds, but only shot 7 for 21 from the field.

The Celtics played without Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart due to a bruised left hip.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks the ball as Celtics guard Derrick White (9) and Brooklyn Nets forward TJ Warren (1) watch

TRAIL BLAZERS 116, PACERS 100

Jerami Grant scored 28 points in Portland’s win over Indiana.

Blazers star Damian Lillard scored 21 points and made six assists in his first game since returning from a calf injury on November 19. Anfernee Simons had 22 points and six assists on the night, while Jusuf Nurkic had 19 points and six rebounds.

Myles Turner led the Pacers with 24 points and nine rebounds. Buddy Hield had 22 points in support as the Pacers lacked starting point guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers

Source: Dailymail

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​ Anthony Davis was so dazzling that fans shouted ‘MVP!’ heard chanting. And that came while playing on the road. Davis scored 55 points on blistering 22-of-30 shooting and added 17 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over the Washington Wizards 130-119 on Sunday night. After scoring 44 points against Milwaukee in his previous game, …
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