The Los Angeles Lakers snapped their three-game losing streak with a convincing victory over the Miami Heat, fueled by a dramatic improvement in their defensive performance. After trailing by 12 points at halftime, the Lakers clamped down on defense, holding Miami to just 42 points in the second half. LeBron James led the Lakers with 22 points, while Rui Hachimura chipped in 23 points and Austin Reaves recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 assists.
LOS ANGELES — When it came to the Lakers’ declining defense, “connected” was the buzzword ahead of their matchup against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. Because in their eyes, when they’re in sync and playing defense as a unit, they can compete with any team in the NBA , Coach JJ Redick said.
After a pedestrian first-half defensive performance, the Lakers turned up their defensive execution and attention to detail, turning a 12-point halftime deficit into a nine-point victory to end their three-game losing streak. Anthony Davis diving for a loose ball that led to a LeBron James 3-pointer to cut what had been a 14-point deficit to one midway through the third quarter encapsulated the shift in defensive intensity the Lakers had in the second half.The Lakers held the Heat to just 42 second-half points after Miami scored 38 points in the first quarter.James, who finished with 22 points, nine assists and five rebounds, scored nine of his points in the fourth, with his late shot-making giving the Lakers their first victory since they beat the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 3. Rui Hachimura finished with a team-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting to go with eight rebounds. Austin Reaves had a 14 point, 14-assist double-double while Gabe Vincent added 14 points and four assists off of the bench.But Miami turned the ball over 20 times for 23 Laker points, limiting the effectiveness of the Heat’s strong perimeter shooting (16 for 36 from behind the arc). The Lakers took 17 more shots than the Heat (90-73) with the help of their ball security, finishing with just seven turnovers.
Lebron James Los Angeles Lakers Miami Heat NBA Defense Rui Hachimura Austin Reaves
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Magic Johnson Wants The Lakers To Trade For 6x NBA All-StarMagic Johnson wants the Lakers to trade for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.
Read more »
Jimmy Butler Wants Out of Miami Heat, Open to Trades Everywhere Except MiamiMiami Heat star Jimmy Butler has reportedly expressed his desire to be traded, seeking a new team where he can regain his joy for the game. Butler is open to playing for any NBA team except the Miami Heat, citing a lack of fulfillment in his current situation. While Butler remains committed to participating in team activities, his discontent has sparked speculation about a potential showdown with the Heat organization.
Read more »
How To Watch Miami Heat-Houston Rockets, Lineups, Injury Report, Betting LinesThe Miami Heat end their road trip Sunday at the Houston Rockets
Read more »
How the Miami Heat-Jimmy Butler Situation Reached This PointExplores the factors leading to the current situation between the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler, and analyzes the complexities of a potential trade.
Read more »
Lakers newsletter: Are your fantasy Lakers trades actually good?Making a trade in the NBA is very complicated, especially since it all has to work with the salary cap.
Read more »
Jazz's Future and Lakers' Dilemma: Trade Rumors Heat UpAs the Utah Jazz rebuild and the Los Angeles Lakers face uncertainty with LeBron James's future, trade rumors swirl around both teams. The Jazz are prioritizing their lottery odds, while the Lakers' next month will determine their approach to the trade deadline.
Read more »