Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans Recap March 14, 2023

The Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans faced off in a game that had significant implications for both teams' playoff hopes. The Lakers would defeat the Pelicans 123-108, gaining a very important win as the regular season winds down.

From the start of the game, the Lakers took control and never looked back. Led by Anthony Davis's dominant performance, the Lakers put up 39 points in the first quarter, compared to the Pelicans' 24. Davis, who had 35 points and 17 rebounds, was a force to be reckoned with all game long, hitting shots from all over the court and using his size and strength to dominate on the boards. Davis also got to the free-throw line often, making 12 of his 13 attempts.

The Pelicans struggled to keep up with the Lakers' high-octane offense, which was firing on all cylinders. They were led by Brandon Ingram and Trey Murphy III, who each scored 22 points. However, the team as a whole struggled to hit shots from beyond the arc, making just 9 of their 40 three-point attempts. CJ McCollum had a rough night shooting the ball, making just 5 of his 17 attempts.

Despite the Pelicans' struggles, they did manage to make a run in the third quarter, outscoring the Lakers 35-23. However, the Lakers responded in the fourth quarter, holding off the Pelicans' comeback attempt and sealing the victory.

The Lakers' bench had a solid game, with Austin Reaves scoring 14 points and Rui Hachimura contributing 12 points. Wenyen Gabriel also provided a spark off the bench, grabbing 8 rebounds in just 14 minutes of play.

With the win, the Lakers improved to 34-35 on the season, while the Pelicans fell to 33-36. The Lakers will look to build on their win over the Pelicans as they continue their playoff push. Their next game is against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks Recap March 12, 2023

The New York Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in a thrilling game that ended with a score of 112-108. The game was a closely contested battle from start to finish. The Knicks took a four-point lead after the first quarter, 31-27, thanks to the scoring of RJ Barrett and Julius Randle. The Lakers were able to bounce back in the second quarter, outscoring the Knicks 32-31 to cut the deficit to three points at halftime. The Lakers fought hard in the final period, but the Knicks were able to hold on for the win.

Both teams had standout performances from their star players. D'Angelo Russell led the Lakers in scoring with 33 points on 13-of-19 shooting, including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. Anthony Davis had a double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds, while Dennis Schroder and Austin Reaves each contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively, off the bench.

For the Knicks, Barrett and Randle were the stars of the game. Barrett had 30 points on 12-of-27 shooting. Randle had a double-double with 33 points and eight rebounds, while also dishing out five assists. Other notable performances came from Immanuel Quickley, who had 15 points and four assists, and Josh Hart, who had eight points and eight rebounds.

The Lakers had a chance to get to .500 for the first time this season, but unfortunately could not do so in this back and forth game. Their record currently stands at 33-35. The Lakers will take on the New Orleans Pelicans in their next game on Tuesday.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Toronto Raptors Recap March 10, 2023

The Toronto Raptors faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, and the game ended with the Lakers coming out on top, with a final score of 122-112. The game was closely contested throughout, with the Raptors taking a slim lead at the end of the first quarter with a score of 35-31. However, the Lakers came back strong in the second quarter, outscoring the Raptors 39-27 and taking a 8-point lead into halftime.

OG Anunoby had a stellar performance for the Raptors, scoring 31 points on 12-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Scottie Barnes also had a strong showing, putting up 32 points on 13-of-19 shooting and dishing out seven assists. Jakob Poeltl added 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Despite the impressive performances from Anunoby and Barnes, the Lakers would answer back. D'Angelo Russell led the way with 28 points, including 5-8 from three-point range, and also dished out nine assists. Dennis Schroder finished with 23 points, seven assists, and six steals, while Austin Reaves had 18 points and five assists. Jarred Vanderbilt also had a solid game for the Lakers, scoring 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Rui Hachimura came off the bench to score 16 points on 7-9 shooting from the field.

The win improves the Lakers' record to 33-34. The game was a closely contested matchup between two teams fighting to stay in playoff contention. While the Raptors were able to stay close for most of the game, the Lakers were able to take control in the fourth quarter and hold on for the win. Both teams will have to continue to play at a high level if they want to make it to the playoffs this season.

D'Angelo Russell Will Return Tonight Against The Raptors

Los Angeles Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell is set to return to the lineup on Friday after a six-game absence due to a right ankle sprain. Lakers coach Darvin Ham said that Russell would not face any playing time restrictions and would be "pretty much a full go".

The guard, who has been practicing with coaches, but not playing in full team scrimmages, said he was not concerned about returning to the game. He will rejoin the starting backcourt, with Dennis Schroder heading to the bench unit. Russell has averaged 13.5 points and 5.0 assists in four games since joining the Lakers at the trade deadline, and Schroder has been impressive in his absence, averaging 14.3 points and 8.5 assists.

The Lakers have been dealing with several injuries, with backup center Mo Bamba expected to be out for at least four weeks due to a high left ankle sprain. Despite the injuries, the Lakers have registered the best defensive rating in the NBA since the All-Star break. The Lakers are currently the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference, and they are just two games behind the Golden State Warriors for the No. 5 spot. 

Russell compared the remaining games to a team starting the playoffs, needing to secure 16 wins to earn the title. He said that it would be one game at a time and that the intensity would increase as the playoffs approached.

Mo Bamba Out For Four Weeks

In Sunday's game against the Golden State Warriors, Mo Bamba sustained a high ankle sprain, and the Lakers have announced that Mo Bamba he will be out for at least four weeks. Bamba's absence will undoubtedly be felt, as he is a key player on the team's bench. His ability to block shots, secure rebounds, and hit 3-pointers will be sorely missed.

The Lakers will now have to go small whenever Davis isn't on the floor, unless they end up picking up another true center. The Lakers' bench is already thin, and losing Bamba for an extended period will make things even more challenging.

The Lakers' injury issues have been a topic of discussion throughout the league. While injuries are a part of the game, it's been difficult for the Lakers to maintain their consistency and perform at the level that they are capable of with so many players out.

The team is hopeful that they can overcome these injuries and make a strong push to make the playoffs. With so many talented players on their roster, the Lakers have the potential to make a deep run in the postseason. However, they will need to stay healthy if they want to achieve their goals.