Nov 16, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) brings the ball up court docket in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans in the course of the first half at Smoothie King Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Stephen Lew-Imagn Photographs The Los Angeles Lakers return residence Tuesday, the place they’ll put a season-best five-game successful streak on the road in opposition to the Utah Jazz in an NBA Cup West Group B sport.
The Lakers have taken benefit of undermanned groups of late, with victories within the successful streak coming over the Philadelphia 76ers with out Joel Embiid, the Memphis Grizzlies with out Ja Morant and the New Orleans Pelicans sans CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray on Saturday.
Within the 104-99 victory at New Orleans, the Lakers had their very own personnel points to beat, with Cam Reddish (foot) and Rui Hachimura (ankle) each out. Rookie Dalton Knecht began and scored a career-best 27 factors.
Over his previous three video games, two of them begins, Knecht has averaged 20.0 factors in 31.5 minutes per sport. He was 5 of 10 from 3-point vary in opposition to the Pelicans and has gone 12 of 19 (63.2 p.c) in his three-game productive stretch.
“Each time (Knecht) shoots the ball, I feel it is entering into,” mentioned the Lakers’ Anthony Davis, who had 31 factors and 14 rebounds in opposition to his former crew. “That is why we get so annoyed and upset with him when he would not shoot. He is a terrific participant. He can defend, he can shoot, he can put it on the ground, he can move. So he can do all of it.”
Lakers veteran LeBron James shook off a gradual begin to rating 21 factors and ship massive baskets down the stretch. He’s averaging 23.3 factors, 9.2 assists and eight.6 rebounds in his twenty second season.
The Jazz have been higher of late, however are coming off a second consecutive loss as they dropped a 116-105 resolution Sunday on the street in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Jazz trailed 99-76 with 11:06 remaining earlier than they rallied to inside 110-103 with 3:18 to play on a 3-pointer from Jordan Clarkson. The Clippers long-established a fast 5-0 run and cruised to the victory from there.
Clarkson completed with 21 factors off the bench, whereas Lauri Markkanen had 18 factors with 10 rebounds. Keyonte George scored simply 9 factors on 4-of-12 capturing for Utah and was changed within the beginning lineup to open the second half by Isaiah Collier.
“One other night time the place we had quite a lot of lineups on the market, however I feel that the factor we’re attempting to emphasise each night time is you must compete if you wish to play. That is nonnegotiable,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy mentioned.
Markkanen believes the hassle the Jazz put forth within the fourth quarter Sunday is one thing they’ll study from and apply transferring ahead.
“We have now that struggle in us, and I feel that is what we’re attempting to realize,” Markkanen mentioned. “We’re searching for a full sport of that desperation, enjoying arduous (and) actually have that aggressive edge.”
John Collins leads the Jazz with 17.5 factors per sport, whereas Markkanen is simply behind at 17.3 factors. Walker Kessler is the crew’s main rebounder at 10.7 per sport however will miss his fifth straight sport Tuesday with a proper hip harm.
The Lakers are 1-0 in NBA Cup group play, whereas the Jazz are 0-1.
–Subject Stage Media
