The Los Angeles Lakers closed a demanding five-game, seven-night stretch with a 110-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, holding an opponent to its lowest point total of the season.
Center Deandre Ayton, who sat out Saturday’s contest in Portland because of knee soreness, returned to deliver his best outing of the year: 25 points and 13 rebounds on 10-for-10 shooting. According to the team, he is the first player this season to score at least 20 points without a miss in 10 or more attempts and only the 34th in NBA history to pair such accuracy with at least 10 rebounds. He also becomes the third Laker to post a 100 percent night on 10-plus attempts with 10 or more boards, joining Wilt Chamberlain (March 11, 1969) and Mitch Kupchak (Nov. 20, 1981).
Luka Doncic matched Ayton with 25 points despite an 8-for-23 performance from the field and continues to navigate a groin issue. The guard added two rebounds, seven assists, one block and one steal.
LeBron James, who has appeared in all five games this week at age 41, contributed 24 points, four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks while hitting 9 of 17 attempts.
Off the bench, Jarred Vanderbilt recorded two points and nine rebounds but made his primary impact by defending Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes; his plus-25 in 22 minutes led all players. The Lakers’ defensive intensity was further bolstered by Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent.
The Lakers now embark on their longest road trip of the season, an eight-game swing that opens Tuesday with their first meeting of the year against the Denver Nuggets.
Source: LakersNation.com
