Anthony Davis led all scorers with 32 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks and three steals, Carmelo Anthony recorded a season-high 29 points, making seven three-pointers, including a go ahead three with 2:00 left in overtime and the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a thrilling 126-123 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night at Staples Center.
The Lakers survived a late collapse in the closing moments of regulation and improved to 6-5 with the win, while the Hornets fell to 5-7 with the loss.
Davis returned to the lineup and looked like himself after leaving the last game with an illness as well as playing through a thumb injury. He helped the Lakers close the game after squandering a 14-point fourth quarter advantage and made big plays when the team needed him the most.
“He’s dealing with a lot of stuff right now with his thumb and being sick, but he’s playing through it,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said on Davis. “We don’t win that game tonight without him having that mentality.”
The star big man had six points in overtime, including converting a pair of free throws with 49.4 seconds left to give Los Angeles a three-point lead and blocked Hornets guard Terry Rozier three-point attempt with 6.2 seconds remaining before Cody Martin missed the game-tying shot for Charlotte.
“They lost 4 in a row, so they needed a win, but we needed a win most,” said Davis, who stated he took chewables and drank extra fluids to get through the game. “We weren’t losing this game.”
“Hopefully, I feel better in the next couple days, but if not, we’ll do it again!”
The Lakers won their first game without LeBron James, who missed his third straight while recovering from an abdominal strain.
Russell Westbrook recorded his 185th career triple-double and first as a Laker tallying 17 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists, while Malik Monk and DeAndre Jordan added 10 apiece.
Rozier led Charlotte with 29 points, LaMelo Ball recorded his second career triple-double with 25 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists and Gordon Hayward added 21 points.
Los Angeles used a 22-9 run over the last 3:48 of the third quarter to take a 94-87 lead over Charlotte, as the Hornets saw the game slipping away.
Monk drained a 41-foot buzzer-beater from halfcourt to end the third and the Lakers were clicking on all cylinders before the Hornets made a run of their own.
Leading 110-99 with 5:10 remaining in the fourth, Charlotte used a 16-5 run to tie the game at 115 with a Bridges three-pointer with 23.7 seconds remaining in regulation.
Ball made five consecutive free throws late in the fourth after the Lakers were called for a delay of game, followed by Anthony and Westbrook picking up technical fouls while frustratingly arguing over foul calls.
“Like I said, we had the game under control,” Davis said. “That whole — couple of techs, delay of game, he got fouled, hit two free throws, things like that — kind of let them get back into the game.”
Rozier gave the Hornets a brief 121-117 lead in overtime after converting a mid-range jumper, but Davis answered with a 15-foot jumper, followed by a three by Anthony that allowed the Lakers to retake a one-point lead with two minutes remaining, securing a thrilling 126-123 win.
“I feel good. I feel in a good rhythm. I’m just taking advantage of the (position I’m in),” Anthony said.
“We’re getting him as many threes as we can get him. … He’s playing terrific for us on both sides of the ball,” Vogel said on Anthony.
The Lakers will continue their five-game homestand hosting the Miami Heat on Wednesday, followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
