Game ID: 22301094
Los Angeles Lakers @ Toronto Raptors
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
TOR 25 33 21 32 111LAL 34 30 36 28 128
LAL @ TOR ScoutingLAL @ TOR Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
TOR availability going into 3/23 · back-to-backOUT Barrett missed 5 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Quickley missed 2 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 6 since 3/11, out tonight
BACK Trent Jr. back 3/15 after 2, 32 min since (112% of 28)
BACK Freeman-Liberty back 3/17 after 2, 18 min since (96% of 18)
BACK Ramsey back 3/13 after 3, 20 min since (113% of 17)
BACK Gueye back 3/20 after 6, 8 min since (76% of 11)
BACK Temple back 3/22 after 16, 18 min since (168% of 11)
NEW Agbaji 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Dick 21 to 29 min over the last 5
TOR availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Barrett missed 6 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Quickley missed 3 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 7 since 3/11, out tonight
BACK Trent Jr. back 3/15 after 2, 32 min since (115% of 28)
BACK Freeman-Liberty back 3/17 after 2, 19 min since (104% of 18)
BACK Gueye back 3/20 after 6, 8 min since (73% of 11)
BACK Temple back 3/22 after 16, 14 min since (135% of 11)
NEW Agbaji 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Dick 21 to 30 min over the last 5
TOR availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Barrett missed 7 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Quickley missed 4 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 8 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT McDaniels missed 2 since 3/23, returns tonight: 16 min (152% of 11)
BACK Freeman-Liberty back 3/17 after 2, 21 min since (115% of 18)
BACK Gueye back 3/20 after 6, 9 min since (83% of 11)
BACK Temple back 3/22 after 16, 15 min since (140% of 11)
NEW Agbaji 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Dick 21 to 32 min over the last 5
TOR availability going into 3/31 · 3 days' restOUT Barrett missed 8 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Quickley missed 5 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 9 since 3/11, out tonight
BACK Gueye back 3/20 after 6, 10 min since (87% of 11)
BACK McDaniels back 3/27 after 2, 16 min since (152% of 11)
BACK Temple back 3/22 after 16, 18 min since (168% of 11)
NEW Dick 21 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Freeman-Liberty 18 to 26 min over the last 5
TOR availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Barrett missed 9 since 3/13, returns tonight: 26 min (79% of 34)
OUT Quickley missed 6 since 3/20, returns tonight: 27 min (82% of 33)
OUT Boucher missed 10 since 3/11, out tonight
BACK McDaniels back 3/27 after 2, 17 min since (159% of 11)
BACK Temple back 3/22 after 16, 16 min since (152% of 11)
NEW Dick 21 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Freeman-Liberty 18 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Nwora 16 to 21 min over the last 5
TOR availability going into 4/03 · back-to-backOUT Agbaji missed 2 since 3/31, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 11 since 3/11, out tonight
BACK Barrett back 4/02 after 9, 26 min since (79% of 34)
BACK Quickley back 4/02 after 6, 27 min since (82% of 33)
BACK McDaniels back 3/27 after 2, 14 min since (127% of 11)
NEW Dick 21 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Freeman-Liberty 18 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Nwora 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Temple 11 to 18 min over the last 5
TOR availability going into 4/05 · 1 day's restOUT Trent Jr. missed 2 since 4/02, returns tonight: 37 min (132% of 28)
OUT Agbaji missed 3 since 3/31, returns tonight: 35 min (148% of 24)
OUT Boucher missed 12 since 3/11, out tonight
BACK Barrett back 4/02 after 9, 26 min since (79% of 34)
BACK Quickley back 4/02 after 6, 28 min since (84% of 33)
BACK McDaniels back 3/27 after 2, 20 min since (181% of 11)
NEW Dick 21 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Freeman-Liberty 18 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Nwora 16 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Temple 11 to 23 min over the last 5
TOR availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Brown missed 2 since 4/03, returns tonight: 20 min (76% of 26)
OUT Boucher missed 13 since 3/11, out tonight
BACK Barrett back 4/02 after 9, 30 min since (91% of 34)
BACK Quickley back 4/02 after 6, 31 min since (92% of 33)
BACK Trent Jr. back 4/05 after 2, 37 min since (132% of 28)
BACK Agbaji back 4/05 after 3, 35 min since (148% of 24)
BACK McDaniels back 3/27 after 2, 18 min since (169% of 11)
NEW Dick 21 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Nwora 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Temple 11 to 24 min over the last 4
TOR availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Boucher missed 14 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 2 since 4/05, out tonight
BACK Barrett back 4/02 after 9, 32 min since (96% of 34)
BACK Quickley back 4/02 after 6, 32 min since (96% of 33)
BACK Trent Jr. back 4/05 after 2, 36 min since (128% of 28)
BACK Brown back 4/07 after 2, 20 min since (76% of 26)
BACK Agbaji back 4/05 after 3, 31 min since (133% of 24)
NEW Olynyk 26 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Dick 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Nwora 16 to 24 min over the last 4
NEW Temple 11 to 20 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 21 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 43 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 15 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 3/22 after 4, 21 min since (103% of 20)
LAL availability going into 3/27 · back-to-backOUT Vanderbilt missed 22 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 44 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 16 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 3/22 after 4, 16 min since (80% of 20)
NEW Russell 33 to 40 min over the last 4
NEW Dinwiddie 23 to 28 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 23 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 45 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 17 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 3/22 after 4, 15 min since (72% of 20)
NEW Dinwiddie 23 to 30 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 24 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 46 since 12/21, returns tonight: 14 min (78% of 18)
OUT Wood missed 18 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 3/22 after 4, 14 min since (71% of 20)
NEW Davis 36 to 42 min over the last 4
NEW Russell 33 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Reaves 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Dinwiddie 23 to 29 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 25 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 19 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 3/31 after 46, 14 min since (78% of 18)
NEW Davis 36 to 41 min over the last 4
NEW Reaves 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Hachimura 27 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Dinwiddie 23 to 29 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 4/03 · back-to-backOUT Vanderbilt missed 26 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 20 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 3/31 after 46, 14 min since (78% of 18)
NEW Hachimura 27 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Hayes 12 to 19 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 4/06 · 2 days' restOUT Reddish missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 27 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 21 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 3/31 after 46, 14 min since (79% of 18)
NEW Hayes 12 to 17 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 4/07 · back-to-backOUT Reddish missed 3 since 4/02, returns tonight: 14 min (67% of 20)
OUT Vanderbilt missed 28 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 22 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 3/31 after 46, 14 min since (79% of 18)
LAL availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 29 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wood missed 23 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 4/07 after 3, 14 min since (67% of 20)
BACK Vincent back 3/31 after 46, 14 min since (79% of 18)
NEW Hayes 12 to 18 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 18 free throws a game; Trent Jr. at 22 and Dick at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Barrett (9 straight), Quickley (6 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 30 free throws a game; Davis at 30 and James at 26 a game. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Vanderbilt (25 straight), Wood (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-5 a night and Toronto minus-13 and the line, where the Lakers take 30 free throws a game to Toronto's 18. Call it the Lakers 119, Toronto 115, Toronto keeping it close.
3/23 @ WAS 109-112 — TOR notes
TOR lost 109-112. TOR shot 43% (40 of 94) to WAS's 48%, 8 of 33 from three, and went to the line 26 times to WAS's 19 — 21 points from the stripe to their 13. TOR turned it over 12 times to WAS's 17. The glass went 42-55 against them. Trent Jr. led with 31 (10 of 26, 1 of 7 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Dick added 17, Olynyk 14. Q3 was theirs, 33-26, turning a 3-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 86-76 against them. They led by as many as 11. Dick's -7 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 vs BKN 88-96 — TOR notes
TOR lost 88-96. TOR shot 44% (37 of 85) to BKN's 46%, 5 of 27 from three, and got to the line 12 times to BKN's 18. TOR turned it over 10 times to BKN's 18. The glass went 30-50 against them. Trent Jr. led with 18 (7 of 17, 2 of 7 from three); Freeman-Liberty added 15, Agbaji 11. Q3 was theirs, 24-19, turning a 4-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 77-64 against them. Agbaji's -10 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/27 vs NYK 101-145 — TOR notes
TOR lost 101-145. TOR shot 46% (39 of 84) to NYK's 59%, 11 of 31 from three. TOR turned it over 18 times to NYK's 11. The glass went 28-42 against them. Dick led with 23 (10 of 18, 3 of 6 from three); Trent Jr. added 18, Temple 15. Q2 was theirs, 26-35, but the other 3 periods went 110-75 against them. Trent Jr.'s -32 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/31 vs PHI 120-135 — TOR notes
TOR lost 120-135. TOR shot 52% (47 of 90) to PHI's 59%, 11 of 30 from three. Trent Jr. led with 23 (10 of 20, 3 of 9 from three); Nwora added 19, Brown 18. Q3 was theirs, 38-30, the deficit cut from 16 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 105-82 against them. Dick's -14 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/02 vs LAL 111-128 — TOR notes
TOR lost 111-128. TOR shot 48% (43 of 89) to LAL's 51%, 10 of 32 from three, and went to the line 21 times to LAL's 12 — 15 points from the stripe to their 6. Barrett led with 28 (11 of 18, 2 of 3 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Quickley added 20, Dick 14. Q4 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 21 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 100-79 against them. Freeman-Liberty's -21 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/03 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 103, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 20 and Reid at 17 a game. Without Towns (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 18 free throws a game; Trent Jr. at 22 and Dick at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Agbaji (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 103 a night to Toronto's 123 and the glass, where Minnesota has been minus-2 a night and Toronto minus-13. Call it Minnesota 117, Toronto 106, Minnesota by 11.
4/05 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 31 and Middleton at 16 a game. Without Lillard (3 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 127, shooting 45 percent and 29 from three, 16 free throws a game; Trent Jr. at 20 and Dick at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Trent Jr. (2 straight), Agbaji (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been minus-1 a night and Toronto minus-10 and the defense, Milwaukee allowing 115 a night to Toronto's 127. Call it Milwaukee 121, Toronto 110, Milwaukee by 11.
4/07 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Trent Jr. at 24 and Quickley at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Brown (2 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 28 from three, 18 free throws a game; Poole at 19 and Kispert at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Jones (12 straight), Holmes (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Washington wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Washington allowing 112 a night to Toronto's 130 and the arc, Toronto at 33 percent from three to Washington's 28. Call it Washington 116, Toronto 115, Toronto keeping it close.
4/09 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Barrett at 25 and Trent Jr. at 25 a game. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Siakam at 20 and Haliburton at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 109 a night to Toronto's 126 and the turnovers, Toronto giving it away 16 times a game to Indiana's 9. Call it Indiana 120, Toronto 115.
3/26 @ MIL 128-124 — LAL notes
LAL won 128-124 in 2 overtimes. LAL shot 39% (42 of 108) to MIL's 41%, 14 of 44 from three, and went to the line 32 times to MIL's 17 — 30 points from the stripe to their 11. Davis led with 34 (12 of 31, 3 of 8 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Russell added 29, Reaves 29. The hinge was Q4, 27-13: LAL came in trailing by 14 and left it level. LAL trailed 42-58 at the half and won the second half 86-66. Russell was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
3/27 @ MEM 136-124 — LAL notes
LAL won 136-124. LAL shot 56% (45 of 81) to MEM's 47%, 18 of 33 from three, and went to the line 35 times to MEM's 19 — 28 points from the stripe to their 15. Hachimura led with 32 (11 of 14, 7 of 8 from three); James added 23, Russell 23. The hinge was Q2, 32-25: a lead of 1 became 8, and the lead reached 27. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
3/29 @ IND 90-109 — LAL notes
LAL lost 90-109. LAL shot 41% (35 of 86) to IND's 48%, 5 of 30 from three. LAL turned it over 16 times to IND's 8, and IND turned those into 8 steals. Davis led with 24 (9 of 17, 6 of 7 at the line); Reaves added 16, James 16. Q2 was theirs, 25-27, but the other 3 periods went 82-65 against them. Russell's -17 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/31 @ BKN 116-104 — LAL notes
LAL won 116-104. LAL shot 55% (42 of 77) to BKN's 42%, 15 of 40 from three. LAL turned it over 19 times to BKN's 12, and BKN turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 50-38 for them. James led with 40 (13 of 17, 9 of 10 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Davis added 24, Hachimura 20. The hinge was Q1, 31-11: from level to 20 ahead, and the lead reached 26. Reaves was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
4/02 @ TOR 128-111 — LAL notes
LAL won 128-111. LAL shot 51% (52 of 101) to TOR's 48%, 18 of 41 from three, and got to the line 12 times to TOR's 21. Russell led with 25 (9 of 17, 7 of 14 from three); James added 23, Davis 21. The hinge was Q3, 36-21: a lead of 6 became 21, and the lead reached 33. Russell was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
4/03 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 16 free throws a game; Poole at 21 and Kispert at 19 a game. Without Kuzma (2 straight), Jones (10 straight), Holmes (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Davis at 26 and James at 26 a game. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Vanderbilt (26 straight), Wood (20 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-7 a night and Washington minus-2 and the arc, the Lakers at 37 percent from three to Washington's 30. Call it the Lakers 117, Washington 114, Washington keeping it close.
4/06 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Davis at 26 and James at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Reddish (2 straight), Vanderbilt (27 straight), Wood (21 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Allen at 19 and Eva. Mobley at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Okoro (3 straight), Wade (14 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-7 a night and Cleveland minus-6 and the line, where the Lakers take 23 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18. Call it the Lakers 118, Cleveland 112.
4/07 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; James at 26 and Davis at 25 a game. That is 4 straight wins. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Reddish (3 straight), Vanderbilt (28 straight), Wood (22 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 99, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 23 and Reid at 15 a game. Without Towns (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-6 a night and Minnesota minus-3 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 99 a night to the Lakers' 108. Call it Minnesota 111, the Lakers 110, the Lakers keeping it close.
4/09 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 112, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 28 and Davis at 21 a game. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Vanderbilt (29 straight), Wood (23 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 14 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Wiggins (2 straight), Šarić (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 22 free throws a game to Golden State's 14. Call it the Lakers 117, Golden State 114, Golden State keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAD A. Davis
AR A. Reaves
CC C. Castleton
DR D. Russell
JH J. Hayes
LJ L. James
MC M. Christie
ML M. Lewis
RH R. Hachimura
SD S. Dinwiddie
TP T. Prince
TORBB B. Brown
GD G. Dick
GT G. Temple
IQ I. Quickley
JF J. Freeman-Liberty
JM J. McDaniels
JN J. Nwora
KO K. Olynyk
KS K. Simmons
MG M. Gueye
RB R. Barrett
LAL/TOR the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
LeBron James scores 23 points as Lakers win for 7th time in 8 games, beat slumping Raptors 128-111
TORONTO -- — LeBron James scored 23 points, Anthony Davis had 21 points and 12 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 128-111 on Tuesday night for their seventh win in eight games.
D’Angelo Russell shot 7 for 14 from 3-point range and scored 25 points, Rui Hachimura had 14 and Max Christie 12 as the Lakers handed slumping Toronto a 14th straight loss.
The NBA’s career scoring leader, James shot 10 for 12 and had nine assists.
James came in having matched his career high with nine 3-pointers in Sunday’s win at Brooklyn. The 20-time All-Star took just one shot from distance against the Raptors, connecting with 5:22 left in the third quarter.
Davis sat the entire fourth quarter, while James checked out with 9:22 remaining in the final period after Los Angeles extended its lead to 27, 109-82. The Lakers visit the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.
James said he appreciated the chance to get an early start on his postgame routine.
“It absolutely helps,” he said. “Every minute counts. I was able to get back here and get going on the treatment and my prep, and start preparing my body, hopefully, for tomorrow night.”
Lakers coach Darvin Ham said he expected to have both James and Davis available against the Wizards, who beat Milwaukee on Tuesday night.
“We’ll see how they feel when they wake up in the morning but, in all likelihood, I’m sure they’ll play,” Ham said.
James has scored 20 or more points in five of his past six meetings with Toronto.
“He’s just so elite,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said. “It’s amazing to see a player at this age, after 20 years in the NBA, to play at this high a level. We never saw anything like it.”
RJ Barrett scored 28 points and Immanuel Quickley added 20 for the Raptors. Toronto lost a franchise-worst 17 consecutive games in 1997-98.
Toronto’s Gary Trent Jr. sat to rest, while Barrett and Quickley returned after missing time because of personal reasons and reconditioning. The pair combined for 17 points in the first, but the Lakers closed the quarter with an 18-4 spurt to lead 34-25 after one.
Los Angeles held a 64-58 edge at the intermission. James and Davis each scored nine points in the third as the Lakers stretched their lead to 100-79 after three.
“We challenged the guys,” Ham said of his halftime message. “They responded with a big defensive third quarter.”
The Raptors remained without five injured players, including starters Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl . Toronto two-way player Jontay Porter missed his fifth straight game as he remains under investigation for gambling allegations.
Raptors guard Bruce Brown left in the fourth because of a sore right knee.
Lakers forward Cam Reddish was not available for personal reasons, while guard Gabe Vincent sat on the opening night of the back-to-back games as he returns from left knee surgery.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Visit the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.
Raptors: Visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.