Lakers star LeBron James controls the ball in front of Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly during the Lakers’ 134-96 win Thursday night. James had 24 points and 11 assists. (Jess Rapfogel / Associated Press)
A Lakers player walked through the hallway outside the team locker room Thursday night and wondered how he was going to be able to mentally engage in the 48 minutes ahead of him.
He and the team were tired, the team playing for the third time in four nights across the country and facing the NBA’s worst team. It wasn’t going to be easy to be focused, not against the six-win Washington Wizards.
It’s the reality of the NBA, the grind of the schedule and bad opponents able to force teams into their worst habits.
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They were going to have to find a different emotion.
“I liked that we played angry,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
With Anthony Davis back in Los Angeles beginning treatment on a strained abdominal muscle, LeBron James ensured the Lakers wouldn’t take the night off.
James had 24 points and 11 assists in just 27 minutes, the Lakers easily beating the Wizards 134-96 to hand Washington its 16th consecutive loss.
“He was awesome. He was aggressive. He talked. Just his willingness to trust his teammates and create for others and create for himself,” Redick said. “And don’t overlook the fact, by the way, that he’s 40 years old in year 22 with every accolade under the sun and he comes out on a Thursday night that’s a non-nationally televised game against a team that’s really struggling and he is the tone setter. It’s again, competitive stamina. It’s impressive.”
The Lakers (27-19) led by as many as 42 points as the Wizards (6-41) shot 31.9% from the field. Even without Davis, Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith, the Lakers scored a season-high 78 points in the first half. Seven different Lakers were in double figures, with Rui Hachimura scoring 22 and Shake Milton adding 21 in his best game as a Laker. With reserves playing the entire fourth quarter, Bronny James got a huge roar when he scored his second field goal of the season while also getting fouled. Hachimura celebrated the bucket by wrapping LeBron James in a headlock on the bench.
Hachimura said he and the Lakers see how much LeBron James cares about his son and how he has encouraged him when he’s gotten limited playing time.
“I knew he wanted that so bad. So I knew like, as soon as he scored it, he was trying to, I think, hold it a little bit,” Hachimura said of LeBron James’ reaction. “So that’s why I was like, ‘Come on, bro… But yeah, he’s my big brother. So of course, I was happy about it. It was a great moment for sure.”
The game, though, was quickly secondary to good news on Davis, with Redick saying the injury isn’t considered serious. Before the game, Davis was selected by Western Conference coaches as an NBA All-Star for the 10th time in his career. Redick said the Lakers hope Davis returns sometime next week. Jaxson Hayes, starting in his place, scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
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Finney-Smith, who was dealing with a shoulder contusion, said he hopes to play Saturday night when the Lakers play the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Redick said Vincent could also be back after missing the last three games.
“I think our guys will be ready to go Saturday night against the Knicks in the Garden,” Redick said. “Hopefully Doe is available. Hopefully Gabe is available, but if not, next man up and continue to play the right way, which is what we did tonight.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
