Anthony Davis dominates yet again as Lakers move back to .500 with win over Raptors

For the first time since the In-Season Tournament in Las Vegas, the Lakers won back-to-back games by holding off a feisty Raptors team at home.

It was a grind for the Lakers on Tuesday against a refreshed and frisky Raptors side, but the purple and gold came away with a 132-131 victory for their second straight win.

Anthony Davis was his usual dominant self and ended the game with 41 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. LeBron James was more of a facilitator, to begin with 12 assists, and picked up his offense in the second half, ending with 22 points.

Cam Reddish went 4-6 from the 3-point line from three to get 13 points. Christian Wood had another nice game with 14 points, four rebounds, one assist, and one block.

The Lakers had a great start by getting AD involved from the jump. He took the lion’s share of the shots early on and was the only player from either team who was already in double digits after the first quarter with 16 points.

Reddish and Wood both continued their nice offensive surge by each knocking down a 3-pointer. The Raptors didn’t back down and were within reach, but the Lakers led 28-24 at the end of the quarter.

The Raptors scored a quick four points to tie the game at the start of the second. The Lakers answered back to go up by five. LeBron was having a really slow start offensively but finally got on the scoreboard and also nailed a logo 3-pointer.

Toronto was starting to heat up offensively and got the game within three. Immanuel Quickley made it a two-point game and Reddish drilled a 3-pointer to answer. Both teams’ offenses were evenly matched in this first half and each side kept answering back to any runs.

LeBron and AD connected for a dunk to put the Lakers back up after the Raptors took a one-point lead, but Toronto quickly answered and went up two at halftime, 53-51.

Both teams came out in the third quarter with stagnant offenses, but the Raptors were able to pick it up and took a five-point lead. Two Lakers 3-pointers helped them cut the lead to two but two Quickley 3-pointers gave the Raptors an eight-point lead.

A pair of LeBron shots and a Taurean Prince 3-pointer gave the Lakers some momentum to cut the Raptors lead to two. Quickley continued to put his stamp all over this game extending the Raptors lead to four.

The Lakers went up by four after a pair of Max Christie and D’Angelo Russell 3-pointers. The Lakers were starting to heat up and went up six with about a minute left in the quarter. The Raptors answered back and a Gary Trent Jr. 3-pointer made it a one-point game. The Raptors lead by one at the end of the third, 89-88.

The fourth quarter started with the Raptors making a shot but Wood came in and immediately helped the Lakers with a shot and block. The Raptors answered back with a Trent Jr. 3-pointer. Wood responded with a 3-pointer of his own. Both teams were trading baskets and one-point leads.

A LeBron turnover led to an easy Thaddeus Young layup. AD answered back with a dunk but Trent Jr. nailed another 3-pointer. AD made a 3-pointer to make it a 3-point lead, the Raptors answered and LeBron answered back with a dunk. It was a tie game midway into the quarter after LeBron knocked down a 3-pointer.

Both teams started trading 3-pointers and the Raptors grabbed a one-point lead. AD knocked down two free throws to snatch the lead back. After Quickley was given a flagrant foul plenty one for an elbow to the face of Reddish when he was driving to the basket, Reddish made a free throw to make it a two-point Lakers lead.

Pascal Siakam hits a 3-pointer to snatch the lead right back by one, but Austin Reaves made a 3-pointer to take the lead right back. With two minutes left, AD knocked down a shot. was fouled and made the free throw.

A pair of Reaves free throws had the Lakers up five. Siakam answered back to make it a three-point game. It was a two-point game with a minute left. An AD block and a pair of free throws pushed the Lakers lead to three. AD extended it to a five-point lead with two more freebies.

With nine seconds left in the game, the Lakers were up by three after a Scottie Barnes dunk. A very dangerous inbounds pass to AD almost caused some chaos, but AD was fouled and nailed both free throws. Former Laker Dennis Schröder made a 3-pointer to make it a two-point game and AD was again fouled. He made both. A wild Siakam shot at the end made it a one-point win for the Lakers.

Key Takeaways:

Anthony Davis. What else is there to say? Always feed the beast, because he’s always hungry.

The Lakers’ next game is on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns at 7:00 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.