New FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Magic- Game 46

New FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Magic- Game 46

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (23-23)  | Orlando Magic (8-39)

 

The Los Angeles Lakers did what they were supposed to Friday evening, defeating the Orlando Magic 116-105.

 

Lebron James has promised the Laker community the team will turn it around, and tonight was a necessary win. Without Anthony Davis on the floor, the team has struggled. Tonight, they showed resilience and found the same identity they had against the Jazz.

Dwight Howard got the scoring started in his return to Orlando, including a cutting dunk that gave flashbacks. Mo Bamba continued to prove himself however, as he had a putback and a three to start for the Magic. Westbrook followed with 4 quick points, as the first quarter went back and forth.

Jalen Suggs later tied the game twice with consecutive layups, as James exchanged buckets of his own. At 24-24, the quarter wound down with a three for the Magic, as the Lakers trailed going into the second. Turnovers hurt the Lakers early, but the game was still theirs to win.

Stanley Johnson continued his contributions with a three early in the second, as James followed with a completed and-one. The game was purely back and forth early on, thanks to Suggs and Carter Jr. for the Magic. James then hit an open three to put the Lakers up 4, giving him 18 in the first half.  It was all Magic after that shot, however, as Talen Horton Tucker got a flagrant one on Suggs that led to an 11-0 run to put Orlando up 7.  THT would end the run with his first score of the night, but the Lakers trailed to end the half.

While James’ 18 points kept the Lakers deficit under 10, at 62-54, the team had 11 turnovers in the half.  The Magic showed early in the game that they were willing to capitalize on missed opportunities, so the Lakers looked to clean it up.

 

James led the scoring once again for the Lakers in the half, but 11 turnovers had them down by 8 going into the 3rd quarter.

 

The Lakers started the second half with energy, as Avery Bradley and James led a 9-0 run to start.  As the Lakers regained the lead, Stanley Johnson hit two threes to put them up by 7.  The Lakers maintained their lead throughout the quarter, with Carmelo Anthony hitting a three to give them their largest lead of the night by 10.

Anthony had it figured out for the Lakers in the third, as they led 85-78 heading into the fourth. They improved on their turnover struggles compared to the first half, and they looked to overcome their late-game struggles.

The fourth started the right way this time for the Lakers, as they immediately continued their dominant second half.  Anthony hit two more threes to lead the offense with 11 quick points.  The Magic had no answer for the Lakers offense in the final minutes, as they claimed the victory at 116-105. The second half difference for the two teams was 62-43, as the Lakers dominated the struggling Magic.

It was a good win for the Lakers, as this was a game they could not fumble. Back at .500 now, the Lakers look to start a win streak hoping to make progress in the Western Conference.  Lebron led the scoring with 29, but 23 points off the bench for Anthony was just as pivotal for the team. However, the real test comes Tuesday as the narrative between Los Angeles and Brooklyn will have another chapter. Without Anthony Davis, the Lakers are underdogs against the Nets, but a win would be a great boost for the team as they await his return.

The Lakers will be in Brooklyn Tuesday to face the Nets. The game can be seen on TNT at 4:30 p.m.

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– Duncan Dye – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Duncan on Instagram @duncan.dye42

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