In an impressive display, Cam Thomas tallied a remarkable 33 points, accompanied by Nic Claxton’s noteworthy contribution of 22 points and 14 rebounds. This performance led the visiting Brooklyn Nets to break free from a four-game losing streak, securing a commanding 130-112 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
Adding to the Nets’ offensive prowess, Spencer Dinwiddie recorded 19 points, while Mikal Bridges, recovering from a leg contusion, delivered a notable 17 points. Lonnie Walker IV, a former Laker, chipped in 15 points for Brooklyn, a team that arrived with losses in nine of its past 10 games.
The Nets displayed sharpshooting prowess, going 19 of 47 from 3-point range (40.4 percent), effectively terminating a five-game road losing streak. On the opposing end, Anthony Davis notched 26 points and secured 12 rebounds, while LeBron James contributed 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who struggled to maintain consistency. This defeat followed consecutive victories over the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks.
D’Angelo Russell scored 20 points, and Jarred Vanderbilt added 12 for the Lakers, a team that hasn’t clinched three consecutive wins since early December. Presently standing at 2-1 in a stretch of six consecutive games at Los Angeles, the Lakers brace for a challenging six-game road trip.
The Lakers initiated the game with a strong start, outscoring the Nets 37-28 in the first quarter with an impressive 65.2 percent shooting accuracy. However, Brooklyn mounted a turnaround, securing a 34-31 advantage in the second quarter, narrowing the Lakers’ lead to 68-62 at halftime.
In a shift of dynamics, the Nets seized their first lead at 76-74 in the third quarter, propelled by a 3-pointer from Bridges with 8:09 remaining. Brooklyn continued its dominance in the third quarter with a 38-22 lead, entering the fourth period with a 100-90 advantage.
Maintaining the momentum, the Nets extended their lead to 117-98 with 6:57 remaining, following a Claxton layup. A 3-pointer from Thomas further solidified Brooklyn’s lead at 123-103 with 5:09 left, ultimately cruising to victory.
As the Nets record a 4-14 performance since Dec. 14, the Lakers, despite their early-season NBA in-season tournament triumph, have struggled with a 7-13 record since the same period.