LEBRON OUT, BUT ANTHONY DAVIS SHINES FOR LAKERS
Los Angeles Lakers’ super-star LeBron James sat out Thursday’s NBA clash against the Golden State Warriors with a sore groin. Did it matter? No! Not one bit. Not with Anthony Davis, 26, still around.
The 6ft. 10in. seven-time NBA All star spearheaded the Lakers to a resounding 116-86 victory that maintained their strong hold on the Western Conference. It was the seventh consecutive win for the Lakers and it took their win-loss record to 45-12. They now have a substantial lead over the Denver Nuggets (40-18) and the LA Clippers (39-19) in the West.
In the overall picture, however, they still trail the Eastern Conference leaders, the Milwaukee Bucks. Lead by MVP favourite Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have won 50 games and lost only 8.
It makes sense then to see that the Bucks, at +240, are the favourites of the New Jersey sports betting industry to win this year’s NBA Championship. The Lakers (+300) are their second favourites.
Lakers are Western Conference favourites
What doesn’t make so much sense; the Lakers are the Garden State bookies’ Western Conference favourites by the narrowest of margins. Their winning odds of around +170 as against the +180 of the Clippers hardly support the Lakers strong position in the Western Conference standings.
In the meantime Davis, who made the 2012 US Olympic team in his rookie year, stepped up on Thursday with 23 points and six rebounds. The rest of the Lakers points in this on-the-road win came via Kyle Kuzma (18), Dwight Howard (13), JaVale McGee (12), Rajon Rondo (12) and Avery Bradley (12).
For struggling San Francisco team Eric Paschall led the way with 23 points off the bench.
Embiid and Simmons out but Harris stars
Tobias Harris, in the absence of injured All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, stepped up for the Philadelphia 76ers. Harris posted a game-high 34 points in a 115-106 win over the lowly New York Knicks.
Shake Milton starred from the three-point line, nailing all five of his attempts on his way to 19 points.
The 76ers’ fielded two new recruits, Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks. Both, acquired from the Warriors on the deadline, were given the chance to impress against the Knicks.
Both failed to do so. In the starting five, Robinson played 21 minutes but was just two of six from the field for a paltry four points. Burks, meanwhile, was two of 10 from the field and made just one of his four three-point attempts in scored seven.
In other NBA games on Thursday…
In other NBA games on Thursday…
Oklahoma City Thunder 112-108 Sacramento Kings
Indiana Pacers 106-100 Portland Trail Blazers
Philadelphia 76ers 115-106 New York Knicks
Los Angeles Lakers 116-86 Golden State Warriors