Lakers 116-97 Cavaliers (Apr 6, 2024) Sport Recap – ESPN

LeBron James and Anthony Davis block Darius Garland from attending to Austin Reaves, who’s making an attempt to run clock.
LOS ANGELES — — D’Angelo Russell scored 28 factors, LeBron James added 24 and the Los Angeles Lakers prolonged their successful streak to 4 with a 116-97 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, shifting into eighth place within the Western Convention.
Anthony Davis added 22 factors and 13 rebounds because the Lakers improved to 45-33 with their ninth win in 10 video games.
They nonetheless are in place to land within the play-in match, however ending seventh or eighth means they might solely must win one recreation to earn a playoff spot.
“We’re very assured in our ballclub,” Davis stated. “We chortle about like, oh, successful 9 out of 10, you understand, 10 out of 11, no matter. and we’re not gaining anyplace. That is how good the West is.”
It’s the first time since Dec. 29 the Lakers have been eighth within the convention. With 4 regular-season video games remaining although, coach Darvin Ham is not centered on seeding however on the Lakers having momentum going into the postseason.
“Simply maintain us. Proceed to search for methods to get higher individually and collectively. Every thing else will take of itself,” he stated. “We’ll fall precisely within the spot we’re speculated to fall, however the secret is for us to be enjoying at a excessive stage on each side of the ball.’
Darius Garland scored 26 factors for Cleveland and Caris LeVert had 21 off the bench. The Cavaliers (46-32) remained in third place within the East however have dropped two straight and three of their final 4.
“I assumed we did some actually good issues in spurts. We simply couldn’t maintain it sufficient to return out with a win,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff stated. “The turnovers sort of bit us within the butt. We additionally pressured turnovers and did not convert on them.”
Russell had six 3-pointers, together with 5 within the first half, when his 23 factors helped the Lakers take a nine-point lead.
James improved to 18-4 in opposition to his former workforce, the place he performed for 11 seasons in two totally different stints. He had a pair of alley-oop dunks in opposition to the workforce he led to its lone NBA title in 2016.
Davis scored 11 factors within the third quarter, together with 9 throughout a 19-0 run. Cleveland led 71-67 earlier than the Lakers regained management throughout a four-minute span.
“As soon as we defend we get stops and maintain groups to 1 shot, what we do offensively is thru the roof. It is laborious to include us,” Ham stated.
Los Angeles jumped out to a 16-point lead early within the second quarter with a 24-4 run earlier than Cleveland obtained it all the way down to 65-56 at halftime.
Garland, who tied a profession excessive with 5 steals, had a pair of 3-pointers because the Cavaliers started the second half with an 11-2 spurt to tie it at 67-all.
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Stay in Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Sunday afternoon.
Lakers: Host the Minnesota Timberwolves Sunday evening.
——
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

source