New FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Nets- Game 48

New FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Nets- Game 48

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (24-24)  | Brooklyn Nets (29-18)

 

The Los Angeles Lakers welcomed Anthony Davis back as they captured the 106-96 win over the Nets Tuesday.

 

With the return of Anthony Davis finally arriving for Laker Nation, the Lakers certainly seemed to step up their game in this one. Malik Monk played great against the Nets on Christmas, and he continued that personal success against Brooklyn on Tuesday.

The game began in style for the Lakers, as Anthony Davis started with an alley-oop dunk on a pass from James. AD scored 6 of the first 8 for the Lakers, to go along with an impressive three blocks in the first 7 minutes. James Harden was the beginning offense for the Brooklyn Nets, as he had 16 of their first 23 points.

With the Nets up 23-21 in the final minutes of the first, Malik Monk and Carmelo Anthony both hit from three consecutively to give the Lakers the lead again. The offense was rolling early for L.A., as James concluded the quarter with a layup to put them up eight heading into the second. James Harden was a menace in the first for the Lakers, as his 16 early points kept this score within single digits.

The second quarter began with some and-one action from James, as the elite offense continued.  Malik Monk led a 9-2 run for the Lakers, hitting twice from the arc to put them up by 14.  He eventually hit his third three of the quarter not long after another score from Anthony Davis.  James looked to end the half with an 11-point lead for the Lakers by hitting twice from the free-throw line, but stellar offense by James Harden had the Nets down by just nine at the break.

The big three looked like James, AD, and Malik Monk in the first half, as Monk had 16 to go along with James’ 15. However, 22 points from Harden only had the Nets down 62-53. However, a lead is nowhere near comfortable for the Lakers. The only Laker to turn the ball over in the first half was Russ, but he had four turnovers to start. The team went into the locker room on a great note, but they hoped to see improvement from the veteran in the second half.

 

The big three looked like Lebron, AD, and Malik Monk in the first half on Tuesday, as they led the Nets 62-53 at the break.

 

The second half started nicely for Los Angeles, as two buckets from Avery Bradley and a three from James kept the momentum intact. To no one’s surprise, however, James Harden began to make things interesting with a three that cut the lead to just 5. Harden later reached 31 points by hitting all three from the line, giving the Nets their smallest deficit of the quarter, at 2 points.

Malik Monk continued his dominance over Brooklyn in the final minutes of the third, as he hit two more times from three. Along with buckets from Russ and James, the Lakers captured the double-digit lead again. The quarter was capped off by a three from Carmelo Anthony, giving the Lakers a 92-78 lead and tying their largest lead of the night.

AD got the quarter started by blocking Patty Mills from three. With four blocks for the NBA champ, the Laker offense began to slump a little. Unable to score in the first 4 minutes of the fourth, the Lakers’ great defense helped hold the lead to double-digits before Carmelo Anthony could break the cold streak. James scored on two straight steals, throwing both buckets down with authority.

The energy was in both defense and offense for Los Angeles tonight, as the final minutes ran out in the Lakers’ favor. Perhaps the return of Anthony Davis was the exact boost they needed on defense, as they held the Nets to under 100 points in this one. The Nets were without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but Laker Nation couldn’t care less given what this team has endured. With a 106-96 win for the Lakers, they regain a .500 record in light of AD’s return and hope this is the start of a second-half run.

Lebron James countered Harden’s 33-point triple-double with 33 points of his own as he continued in this “offensive zone.” The numbers speak for themselves at the end of the day, and Malik Monk continued to prove his worth by posting another 20-point game off the bench. Now with the team back at .500, the return of AD, and the confidence James is reflecting on and off the court, the Lakers are possibly seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. The trade deadline is still around the corner, but the best thing the Lakers can do right now is to continue this stellar play in hopes of climbing the standings.

 

Today marks the second anniversary of the tragic death of Kobe and GiGi Bryant and seven others.

 

Lastly, everyone here at Franchise Sports Media would like to take a moment to remember Kobe & GiGi Bryant and the other seven other victims of the helicopter crash that took their lives two years ago today. We are sending our love, thoughts, prayers, and well wishes to Vanessa, the girls, the entire Bryant family, and the families affected by their tragic passing on this day.

On January 26, 2020, at approximately 9:06 a.m., the nine passengers and crew of the helicopter departed from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. They were heading to a basketball game at Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park, where Bryant was scheduled to coach Gianna’s team. At 9:45 a.m., the chopper crashed, and all nine people on board were killed on impact.

On this day, we mourn the loss of John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Ara Zobayan, Gianna Bryant, and Kobe Bryant.

“God knew they couldn’t be on this Earth without each other,” Vanessa Bryant said at Kobe and GiGi’s memorial service. “He had to bring them home to have them together. Babe, you take care of our Gigi. And I got Nati, Bibi, and Coco. We’re still the best team.”

The Lakers will be in Philadelphia Thursday to face Embiid and the 76ers. The game can be seen at 4:30 p.m. on TNT.

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– Duncan Dye – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Duncan on Instagram @duncan.dye42

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