Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic Recap March 19, 2023

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 111-105 on March 19, 2023. It was a closely contested game throughout, but the Lakers managed to hold on for the win. They got a huge performance from Austin Reaves, who scored a career high 35 points off the bench. Reaves was red-hot from the field, making 9 of his 14 shots, and got to the free-throw line a whopping 18 times, making 16 of his attempts.

Reaves was not the only Laker who had a big game. Anthony Davis recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while D'Angelo Russell added 18 points and 6 assists. Dennis Schroder also made a valuable contribution off the bench, scoring 12 points and dishing out 5 assists.

The Magic, meanwhile, got strong performances from their young core. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner each scored 21 points, while Wendell Carter Jr. recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Markelle Fultz had a solid all-around game, scoring 12 points and dishing out 10 assists.

Despite the strong performances from their young players, the Magic were unable to overcome the Lakers' offensive firepower. The Lakers shot 46.2% from the field, 40.6% from three-point range, and 81.3% from the free-throw line. They also outrebounded the Magic 52-43.

The Lakers' win over the Magic was a hard-fought victory that showcased the team's offensive firepower and ability to overcome injuries. While there is still much work to be done for the team to make the playoffs, the win is a positive sign for the Lakers, especially after getting 61 points from their bench. The Lakers next opponent is the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks Recap March 17, 2023

The Dallas Mavericks narrowly defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in a close game that ended 111-110 in favor of the Mavericks. The game was decided by a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer by Maxi Kleber.

The Lakers started the game strongly, with a 33-29 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, the Mavericks fought back and outscored the Lakers in the second and third quarters, with 33-21 and 27-26 leads, respectively. The Lakers attempted a comeback in the final quarter, scoring 30 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.

Anthony Davis was the top scorer for the Lakers, contributing 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists. Dennis Schroder and Austin Reaves also scored in double digits, with 15 and 16 points, respectively. However, D'Angelo Russell struggled with his shooting, making only 5 of his 17 field goal attempts, though he would add 11 assists.

The Mavericks were led by Kyrie Irving, who scored a game-high 38 points and made 5 three-pointers. Christian Wood also had a good game, with 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. And of course, more important for the Mavericks, they would get a buzzer beater to win the game by Maxi Kleber.

The game was closely contested, with both teams exchanging the lead throughout the game. However, the Mavericks were able to hold on to their lead in the final minutes of the game to secure the victory. The Lakers struggled with their three-point shooting, making only 5 of their 20 attempts, while the Mavericks made 13 of their 28 three-point attempts.

Overall, it was an exciting game between two talented teams, with the Mavericks coming out on top in the end. The Lakers will look to bounce back from this loss in their next game, while the Mavericks will hope to build on this win and improve their record for the season.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets Recap March 15, 2023

The Houston Rockets held on for a 114-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in a thrilling NBA matchup on March 15, 2023. The Lakers were without superstar duo LeBron James and Anthony Davis due to injury, but they still put up a valiant effort against a Rockets team that had been struggling this season.

The Rockets jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, outscoring the Lakers 31-19 behind some hot shooting from Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green. The Lakers battled back in the second quarter, with D'Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley connecting on several three-pointers to keep the game close. However, the Rockets maintained their lead heading into halftime, leading 62-48.

In the third quarter, the Lakers began to mount a comeback, with Jarred Vanderbilt dominating the glass and Austin Reaves getting hot from the field. The Lakers outscored the Rockets 26-21 in the quarter to cut the deficit to 83-74 heading into the fourth.

The Lakers continued to chip away at the Rockets' lead in the fourth quarter, with Russell and Reaves hitting big shots to keep the game within reach. However, the Rockets were able to hold off the Lakers down the stretch.

For the Lakers, Austin Reaves led the way with 24 points and 7 assists, Russell added 18 points and 7 assists, while Beasley added 16 points. Vanderbilt also chipped in with a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Rockets were led by Porter, who had a game-high 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Kenyon Martin Jr. had a strong all-around game with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block, while Jabari Smith Jr. added 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block.

Overall, it was a hard-fought game between two teams that have had their fair share of struggles this season. The Lakers showed that they can still compete even without James and Davis, while the Rockets will look to build on this win as they try to climb out of the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

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.