The Los Angeles Lakers recorded a necessary win over a depleted Brooklyn Nets side on Tuesday night. The main story of the game was the return of Anthony Davis, who returned to play for the Lakers after spending over a month on the sidelines thanks to an MCL injury. AD’s impact was very visible on the court, with his teammate Russell Westbrook addressing the situation after the game.
Westbrook spoke about the positive effect that Davis’ return has on the Lakers team, both in terms of gameplay and mentality. He praised Davis for his defensive presence in the paint, something that was a nightmare for the Nets to deal with all night long. Russ also shared his belief that Davis will get his offensive prowess back as he continues his return from injury.
"I think him coming back was good energy for our team, especially coming off a loss." Russell Westbrook on the impact Anthony Davis had on the defensive setup and psyche of the #LakeShow. pic.twitter.com/PtHlricuaQ
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 26, 2022
“Just getting his rhythm back,” Russ said postgame. “He’s on a minute restriction tonight. But it’s different with his presence out there, especially on the defensive end.
“His offense will come. Part of that is just us playing and getting into a better rhythm. It’s good to see him back on the floor.”
Anthony Davis didn’t have great stats in the game, managing just 8 points on 8 attempts from the field in his 24 minutes on the court. However, Westbrook’s assertion about his defense is backed by the fact that AD managed 4 blocks in the game, an excellent achievement in his first game back. Davis also had 4 fouls, showing that he wasn’t afraid to get involved at any point, and his presence helped the Lakers limit the Nets to under 100 points.
With this win, Los Angeles once again moves to a .500 record at 24-24 and is half a game behind the Timberwolves who are barely hanging on to the 7th seed in the Western Conference. If AD’s return can help the Lakers go on a run, a lot of the noise surrounding the roster and the coaching will decrease significantly.
