Lakers open up the game by giving up 10 straight points and falling behind. Lakers then came back on a 10-3 run to climb back into the game. A few buckets by KCP and LeBron helped the Lakers get back into the game. Lakers now playing the second game of the NBA Restart looking a little rusty against the Toronto Raptors. Kyle Kuzma gets in the game and starts off with shooting a three. Over the last few games including the pre season in Orlando, Kuzma has really looked like a different player in the Orlando bubble. A few Lakers coaches talked about the play of Kuzma saying that he is a different type player and from what I’m looking at, they’re right about him.
In the second quarter the Lakers continue to play with a great pace to tie up the game at 25 early in the second quarter. Dion Waiters has been a key player over the past few games, hitting threes and passing the ball of the dribble. He was a great pick up after being released by the Miami Heat.
Lakers played good defense to climb back into the game with 7 blocks and Anthony Davis was being held scoreless until he when to the line for a technical free throw with 2:31 remaining in the second quarter. Raptors with plenty of turnovers with 11 of them through the first half which allowed the Lakers to climb back into the game after the Raptors opened up the game with a 13-0 run. Lakers bench outscored the raptors 31-6 in the first half, which is very impressive against a very good team. This does not look like a team who has no bench as many say around the league.
Lakers with another slow start in the second half, allowing Toronto to go on a 8-0 run. LeBron and Anthony Davis have a combined of 12 points and are still in this game through the 3rd quarter with 6 mins remaining. So far Kyle Kuzma is the only Laker with double digit points with 10.
Going into the 4th quarter, Anthony Davis and the Lakers closed the 3 quarter on a 9-2 run to cut the lead by 2. LeBron James nails his first 3 of the game with 10 mins remaining in the 4th. Alex Caruso has been a major factor through the whole game. I said this a few weeks ago on “In The Front Row Show” which you can watch every week on our YouTube Page, Alex is gonna be the player we need to step up once we had Avery Bradley sit out for the remaining of the season. While the game has been back and fourth, they are currently tied at 80 a piece with 7 mins remaining in the game.
Coming out of a time out, Toronto came out on fire going on a 7-0 run forcing LA to call timeout. Too many turnovers is costing the Lakers the game. We clearly know who is the better team but for some reason today has not been a good overall day for the Lakers. The Lakers have lost 10 in a row to the raptors, last win was in 2014 when the late Kobe Bryant was still on the team. Kyle Lowry has been incredible on both sides of the ball all game long really giving them the edge they needed against this great Lakers team. Lowry with a total of 33 points leading the way. The Lakers just seem to be having a rough day from the very beginning.
Lakers next game will be Monday evening against the Utah Jazz as the Lakers look forward to possibly clinching the division for the first time since 2013.
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