The Los Angeles Lakers are going to be one of the most exciting teams in the NBA over the second half of the season. After a slow start and an objectively poor roster, the Lakers are looking to ramp up after making a slew of trade deadline additions that are looking like great fits.
After a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers without LeBron James in their last outing, the Lakers needed to beat the Zion Williamson-less Pelicans, especially with James expected to be healthy and playing. That’s exactly what they did, pulling out a strong 102-120 win over the team that traded them Anthony Davis in 2019.
Davis led the Lakers in scoring with 28 points and 10 rebounds, meanwhile, LeBron James had a great 21-point performance while playing on a minutes restriction.
Given the monumental push that stares at the Lakers for them to get into the top 10 of the West for the first time this season, fans were happy to see them pull out this much-needed win in dominant fashion.
Lakers duo tonight:
28 PTS 21 PTS
10 REB 6 REB
5 AST 6 AST
30 MIN 29 MIN pic.twitter.com/ORZICRVEBZ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 16, 2023
lakers had control of a game for the entire 48 and ended up blowing a team out pic.twitter.com/3xuQjRtxKM
— coach xavier (@thexavierjoseph) February 16, 2023
The matter at hand for the Lakers is a sense of urgency. No game can be treated as anything less than a must-win.
— Ry (@JustRyCole) February 16, 2023
You did your job now I’m going to do mine🤝 pic.twitter.com/0fwfv4o6Mb
— 🏆LakersGuru🏆 (@GuruLakers) February 16, 2023
THE LAKERS HAVE LAUNCHED. THEY FINALLY BLEW SOMEBODY OUT – THE PELS (WITHOUT ZION). NO MORE EXCUSES. LEBRON'S TEAM SHOULD BE AT LEAST AS GOOD AS DENVER.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 16, 2023
When was the last time the Lakers were up 20? Man this team looks improved.
— Laker Central (@LakerCentral365) February 16, 2023
https://twitter.com/phillvmikan/status/1626090509390184449
The new-look Lakers showed a lot of promise in their debut 🤩 pic.twitter.com/xfLt1eUClh
— ESPN (@espn) February 16, 2023
Am I actually watching a Lakers game without stress right now??? 🥹 pic.twitter.com/taojY3ohOp
— K.BO XXV 🗽🐺 (@KBO_XXV) February 16, 2023
Bron 20+ point streak continues.
Last time someone had more than 37 20pt games in a row for the Lakers, was Kobe in 2005-06 season.
Bron was 21 that year.
This isn’t just Longevity. This is Peak Extended unlike anything we have ever seen or will see.
Let that sink in.
🐐.
— Letting Go (@ProvideContext) February 16, 2023
LeBron played less than 30 minutes and Lakers won? pic.twitter.com/3lHKn40xdl
— Daman Rangoola (@damanr) February 16, 2023
Lakers surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis with decent to good rotation players and they win by double digits.
Who would have thought.
— Colb (@___Colb___) February 16, 2023
this is the win that turns the Lakers season around
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) February 16, 2023
The PG Bron's been waiting for. 🥲 pic.twitter.com/Ftk7masSPT
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) February 16, 2023
Lebron scored only 20 and Lakers blow out a team pic.twitter.com/n7Q7nn995c
— Le5-6 (@deepyy_) February 16, 2023
Nothing can stop this team as long as they stay healthy.
Lakers in 5. pic.twitter.com/owjK4mzcIE
— Ryan Rueda (@iDude14) February 16, 2023
Lakers fans after their team leads the Pelicans by 17 while D-Lo, AD and LeBron all have 20+ pts… pic.twitter.com/F6QvyJkY3p
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) February 16, 2023
THE LAKERS ARE PUTTING THE LEAGUE ON NOTICE pic.twitter.com/DVlmYalo7P
— ²³ (@SpeakContext) February 16, 2023
THE LAKESHOW IS BACK 🥲 pic.twitter.com/n4iYPPojUH
— NBALakersReport (@NBALakersReport) February 16, 2023
This the first time all I’ve felt relaxed watching my Lakers#Lakeshow pic.twitter.com/UcsTnzBV94
— Christian 🐺 (@ChrisWorld_15) February 16, 2023
The Lakers have improved their record to 27-32 and are 2 games behind the 10th-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and under 4 games behind the 6th-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.
How Realistic Are The Lakers Playoff Hopes?
Coach Darvin Ham openly said that the Lakers can’t afford to make mistakes or lose games after they return from the All-Star break. A win over the Pelicans is very useful, given the Pelicans are also at the lower end of the standings right now and in danger of falling out if Zion Williamson can’t return in time.
The Lakers have to aim for a record that’s over .500, given how teams in the middle of the West have struggled. This means they need to get 15 wins out of their remaining 25 games. With the chemistry of their new lineup looking strong, the team will hope to continue racking up these wins as long as LeBron James and Anthony Davis are healthy.
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