Ayton’s Perfect Shooting Lifts Lakers Past Raptors 110-93
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LOS ANGELES — Deandre Ayton did not miss a shot Sunday night, scoring 25 points on 10-for-10 shooting and grabbing 13 rebounds to propel the Los Angeles Lakers to a 110-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena.
The center returned after sitting out Saturday with left knee soreness and became the first Laker since individual turnovers were tracked in 1977-78 to record at least 25 points on 100% field-goal accuracy with no turnovers, according to ESPN Research. He is only the third player in franchise history to hit 10 or more shots without a miss while collecting at least 10 rebounds, joining Wilt Chamberlain (March 11, 1969) and Mitch Kupchak (Nov. 21, 1981).
“That’s pretty cool,” Ayton said. “My teammates found me in easy spots, and I got some easy ones tonight for sure.”
The win snapped a stretch in which Los Angeles had dropped five of six games by an average of 13.2 points. Sunday’s 93 points allowed marked the club’s stingiest defensive effort of the season.
“He was phenomenal,” head coach JJ Redick said of Ayton. “It’s a huge thing for our team.”
Luka Dončić added 25 points and seven assists, while LeBron James finished with 24 points and seven assists as the Lakers moved to 25-16 at the midpoint of the regular season.
“It’s not a bad record,” Dončić said. “When we play like tonight, it gives us a better chance to win.”
Los Angeles now embarks on an eight-game road trip that begins Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets. “We’re getting paid to do this,” Dončić said. “There shouldn’t be any excuses.”
Source: ESPN
