LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anthony Davis knew he needed a big game to help the Los Angeles Lakers snap a five-game losing streak.
With motivation from an unlikely source, he put together his best game of the season.
“I was watching the Green Bay Packers game (against the Dallas Cowboys) and Aaron Rodgers threw a 40-yard slant to Allen Lazard. He was flexing and that motivated me,” said Davis, who had a season-high 37 points and 18 rebounds in the Lakers’ 116-103 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night.
“I knew I had to dominate to get this win. With LeBron (James) out, a lot of guys are counting on me to get the job done.”
Davis grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds in a regular season game as the Lakers led the offense. Davis averaged just 8.6 points in the second half, but had 21 against the Nets, including 15 in the third quarter.
“I was trying to get to the paint and score inside, knowing they had limited shot blockers,” Davis said. “If we put him on the rim, then I’ll have a guard and a chance to get an offensive rebound.”
Davis was active not only on the boards, but also in shot selection. All but two of his 25 attempts were in the paint.
“It was the plan and figuring out how to get him more touches and in rhythm. Everything was aggressive,” Lakers coach Darwin Hamm said.
Lonnie Walker IV added 25 points for Los Angeles, which was without James for the second straight game with a left adductor strain.
Kevin Durant led the Nets with 31 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Cam Thomas came off the bench to score 15 points and Edmond Sumner added 13.
“Tonight we played sports. It was a perfect storm for them. They made shots and got to the rim,” Durant said.
The Lakers led by 16 with less than four minutes left in the third quarter, but the Nets rallied to within 91-87 after two Durant free throws with 8:27 left in the fourth quarter. The Lakers then opened the game on a 15-2 run, including seven points from Walker and four from Davis.
Los Angeles’ biggest lead was 18 with four minutes left.
Kyrie Irving missed his sixth straight game as part of suspension for refusing to declare he has no anti-Semitic beliefs
Los Angeles led 55-46 at halftime. The Lakers extended their lead to 77-61 with 3:56 left in the third quarter on Walker’s 3-pointer before the Nets scored 11 straight points to end the quarter on a 16-3 run.
“I knew we drained a lot of juice from the Clipper game (a 110-95 win on Saturday). The guys gave it what they had,” Brooklyn coach Jacques Vaughn said after the Nets were down 1-3 during the second game of the back-to-back.
TIPS
Nets: Nick Claxton suffered a contusion over his left eye in the third quarter and did not return. … Markieff Morris had a layup late in the first half, but it was after the buzzer. … Ben Simmons was ruled out an hour before tipoff with left knee soreness. … Seth Curry (left ankle) sat out 26 minutes in Saturday’s win over the Clippers.
Lakers: Austin Reaves had 15 points and Russell Westbrook had 14 points and 12 assists. … Walker scored 11 of the Lakers’ first 20 points.
FURTHER
Nets: At Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.
Lakers: Host the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
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