The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the LA Clippers in the second installment of the Battle of LA, 111–110.
The game had a very slow start, with vibes similar to the Lakers' game the night before against the Portland Trail Blazers.
But in the fourth quarter, the pace of the game picked up a lot. The Clippers took a 17-point lead thanks to ridiculous shotmaking, but Russell Westbrook took a 12-0 lead to get LA within striking distance.
The Lakers eventually took the lead late in the game and both teams went back and forth with a hard shot after a hard shot. In the end, Reggie Jackson's layoff sealed the game. Anthony Davis' floater on the buzzer went in and out.
Here's how the Lakers, now 25-28, are classified personally after the loss:
Russell Westbrook: C-Plus
If this grade is divided by quarters, Russell Westbrook gets an F for the first three quarters. He started the comeback with tough shots around the mid-range area and even hit a crucial triple to cut the deficit to four. But the Lakers need more consistency than their $44 million man. He finished shooting 7-of-18 with 17 points from the deep in a 1-of-5 clip with six rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in 36 minutes.
Avery Bradley :D
Avery Bradley scored 2-3 shots from deep for a total of six points, but he finished with only 20 minutes of play time. He was a team-worst minus -18 on the night as his defense was not up to standard against the Clippers' long guard and wings.
Malik Monk: A-minus
Malik Monk won the entire game of the Clippers' internal defense. This opened the streets for many players, mainly Davis. Davis and Monk feasted all night in a two-man game, leading to Monk's seven-assist night. Running on the lowest deal, Monk added 21 points and seven rebounds to his name. He shot a 19 out of 8 overall and an 8 out of 3 from the deep.
Stanley Johnson: C-minus
Stanley Johnson had two points, three rebounds, two stalls and a block in 23 minutes. If he can get the defenders off the paint consistently, he'll get more minutes because his defense is extremely reliable. But his aggressive boundaries still creep in.
Anthony Davis: A
Anthony Davis' missed shot on the buzzer would be the talking point, but he worked hard throughout the game. When the Lakers went down to 17, Davis was the only energizer on the court and able to put points on the board. He took 30 points, 17 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 38 minutes. He shot 12-in-24 overall and 6-in-7 from Charity Patti. The Lakers really need a healthy LeBron James to pair with this version of AD.
Austin Reeves: B-Plus
Austin Reeves made a triple swipe and took off for a two-handed dunk in transition. His defense was shaky at first with Eric Bledsoe as his main matchup, but he was a more effective guard guarding Luke Kennard, who lacks Bledsoe's athleticism. Reeves made a significant interception on Kennard's lay attempt late in the game on his return.
Talen Horton-Tucker: B-Minus
Talen Horton-Tucker got off to a brisk start with his scoring. He had six out of nine points in the first quarter and made a couple of attempts from the deep. He added two rebounds and two stalls in 21 minutes. Not Horton-Tucker's best game, but certainly not the worst.
Trevor Ariza: B
Trevor Ariza, who hasn't logged any minutes in four of the last five games due to a drop in production, stepped down when Carmelo Anthony went early after pulling his hamstring. Ariza played 17 minutes in the second half, and although he remained quiet for a while, he made some important plays during his return that helped his grades, including a 3-pointer. Ariza finished with a game-high plus-14 points, and her length matched well with the Clippers'.
Dwight Howard: B
Dwight Howard made solid changes to his minutes. He played in 10 and scored seven points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal. When the Clippers center took control of the game at one point, he helped limit Isaiah Hartenstein's two-way impact.
Kent Bezmore: N/A
Kent Bezmore played seven minutes into the first half, but it was a rollercoaster experience. He makes a diving save to bring the ball to Carmelo for a 3-pointer, but his shots around the rim are still not reliable. He did not return to the game after his initial stint, so he did not get the grade. Have to wonder if the Lakers are playing him to increase their business value.