NBA Roundup: Lakers Hold Off Jazz; Doncic Stars, Buzelis Advances, Sixers Adjust Rotations
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Lakers
With four days of rest behind them, the Los Angeles Lakers survived a late rally to edge the Utah Jazz, 108-106, in Salt Lake City. The victory moved Los Angeles to 12-4.
Luka Doncic powered the offense with 33 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, telling reporters, “We didn’t play our best game and we still found a way to win. That’s what great teams do.” The Lakers led from start to finish and were up double digits with a little more than three minutes left before the offense stalled, converting only one field goal the rest of the way. A Lauri Markkanen three-pointer trimmed the margin to one, but Los Angeles held on with a split at the line and a final defensive stop.
LeBron James, still working back from sciatica and feeling the effects of the altitude, finished with 17 points, eight assists and six rebounds. “The only way to get back in basketball shape is to be playing,” he said.
Austin Reaves supplied 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Rui Hachimura scored 13. Maxi Kleber provided a key boost after Deandre Ayton left with a knee contusion, even sprinting coast-to-coast to free Doncic for a corner three. “One of the best players on the floor for us,” Reaves noted.
Bulls
Chicago forward Matas Buzelis continues to climb in his second season. The 7-footer added 10 pounds of muscle over the summer, is embracing a larger role and averaging 14 points, nearly six rebounds and 1.5 blocks in under 28 minutes per game.
Head coach Billy Donovan praised the 20-year-old’s work ethic. “He leans into it and he’s eager to improve,” Donovan said. Buzelis welcomes facing opponents’ top defenders, adding he enjoys having a target on his back.
Sixers
In Sunday’s loss to the Miami Heat, Philadelphia continued to experiment with lineups. Paul George, three games into his return from knee surgery, opened the night in the starting five but shifted to the bench after halftime so head coach Nick Nurse could match him against Miami rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Rookie guard Jared McCain provided a bright spot with a season-high 15 points in 26 minutes. McCain had missed significant time earlier with injuries, making the performance an encouraging step as the Sixers await a fully healthy roster.
Source: Hoops Wire
