Anthony Davis, Lakers squeak by Embiid-less 76ers – Daily News

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Anthony Davis, Lakers squeak by Embiid-less 76ers – Daily News

LOS ANGELES — If there’s reason to be optimistic about the Lakers in a playoff setting, their 5-3 stretch from Feb. 25-March 10, one of their toughest stretches from a quality of opponent perspective, is something to point to.

But if there’s a reason to be more pessimistic about their postseason outlook, and their ability to even make it into a first-round series, it’s how they’ve handled games against teams closer to them in the league’s overall standings.

The latest example was Friday night’s 101-94 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena. Neither team led by double digits all night, and the Lakers committed 21 turnovers during their lowest scoring performance since Jan. 3.

“Ugly, but we got the job done,” said LeBron James, who scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. “We defended (well) in the second half. They only had 18 (points) in the fourth. That’s big-time when the offense was struggling like it was. … We turned the ball over way too much and gave up too easy baskets, but when we got in the half-court, we buckled down and made them take tough shots.”

Coach Darvin Ham echoed that after his team hung on for its seventh win in 11 games after having three days off since beating Atlanta on Monday.

“A lot of things are gonna happen in an NBA basketball game,” Ham said. “The one thing you can’t do is have self-inflicted wounds where you’re disappointed because you didn’t get a whistle. Or you’re turning the ball over. There’s a difference between just unforced errors and competitive turnovers.

“But our group buckled down. Guys became vocal on the sideline, which was great. The dialogue, we’ve been preaching that all year, and it’s really been at a high level here lately.”

The Lakers (38-32) pulled off their 14th victory in their last 21 games, but they squeaked by a 76ers team (38-32) that has been without reigning league MVP Joel Embiid (left knee) since early February and has struggled in his absence, going 9-15 since he’s been sidelined.

After a quiet first three quarters, including struggling with turnovers (seven), LeBron James (eight rebounds and six assists) stepped up in the fourth. Neither team led by more than seven points until his 3-pointer with 2:11 left gave the Lakers a 96-87 lead.

Anthony Davis took advantage of the 76ers’ lack of interior size, finishing with 23 points, 19 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots as the Lakers snapped a seven-game losing streak in their matchups with the Sixers. The Lakers hadn’t beaten Philadelphia since March 3, 2020.

Davis (who scored nine of his points in the fourth) blocked Tyrese Maxey (27 points) and Kyle Lowry in the final two minutes to help preserve the Lakers’ late lead.

“Obviously, the three-day rest, guys didn’t have their legs and rhythm was off,” James said. “Our turnovers were up a lot more than we’re accustomed over the last few weeks. So, but we got the job done.”

All five Lakers starters scored in double figures. Rui Hachimura had 14 points and seven rebounds, D’Angelo Russell had 14 points, five rebounds and three assists and Austin Reaves had 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Russell’s four 3-pointers put him at 187 for the season, breaking his tie with Nick Van Exel for the single-season franchise record (183).

“It just feels good to be a part of one of these type of deals,” Russell said. “And this franchise is one of the most prestigious. So to have my name be a part of it, more than grateful, blessed beyond measure. Just want to keep continuing to shatter it if I can and make it really hard for the next person.”

Spencer Dinwiddie made three 3-pointers and contributed 11 points off the bench, the most he’s scored since joining his hometown team last month.

“They found me for a couple of good threes,” Dinwiddie said. “I was fortunate enough to make them, and that was kind of the exchange for that play.”

But even with the individual bright spots, the Lakers once again didn’t display the focus against the 76ers that they often do against the league’s top teams.

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