Carmelo Anthony saved his eyes on the basketball because it rolled off the rim, his concentrate on the missed layup try by Russell Westbrook.
Because the ball slipped off the rim, Anthony reached up and snatched the offensive rebound. He took one dribble, pump-faked and scored in visitors, yelling after he had accomplished the play Friday night time.
It was one other high-energy second for Anthony within the second half, a play the Lakers wanted of their 116-105 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Anthony scored 19 of his 23 factors within the second half. For the sport, he was eight-of-13 capturing from the sector, together with 4 for 5 from three-point vary, and made all three of his free throws, which happened when he was fouled trying a three-pointer.
“I needed to only are available and do what I needed to do so far as altering the momentum of the sport,” Anthony mentioned. “Not simply from scoring the basketball and capturing it effectively, however a special power, a special effort. I believe numerous occasions, effectively, more often than not, that’s contagious on the market on the court docket.”
Anthony was at his greatest within the fourth quarter. He scored 11 factors, going three for 4 from the sector whereas making these three free throws on the following possession after sinking a three-pointer, giving the Lakers a 95-85 lead with 9 minutes left to play.
“I’m simply enjoying my function, man, simply what’s referred to as for me to do every night time,” Anthony mentioned. “It’s totally different groups defending me otherwise than they do others. So, it’s nearly me enjoying smarter. I learn the defenses. I give my workforce a chance to get us spaced out, give them a weapon on the wing. Make the most of the mismatch. For me, I simply attempt to make the sport easy and make it simpler for myself and the opposite guys.”
Anthony did his work in simply 17 minutes 24 seconds. He had three rebounds and one blocked shot.
“Any time you get a scorching hand like that, he’s certainly one of our snipers,” LeBron James mentioned about Anthony. “He’s certainly one of our fast bucket-getters, the place they will get scorching and it'll are available a flurry and it’s my job and it’s numerous our different guys — but it surely’s most essential after I’m on the ground — it’s my job to seek out him as a lot as I can and I simply tried to try this in that second half.”
Avery Bradley stable on protection
His teammates needed to verify they praised Avery Bradley for his protection within the Lakers’ win over the Magic.
When the Lakers went on their run within the third quarter, outscoring the Magic 31-16, James mentioned it was due to the strain utilized by Bradley.
“Within the third quarter we was capable of flip the sport round and it began with AB’s strain on the level of assault, and all of us adopted go well with,” James mentioned.
The Lakers held the Magic to 26.3% capturing within the third, 12.5% (one for eight) from three-point vary.
Bradley’s stat line was 9 factors, 4 rebounds and two steals.
“I additionally wish to credit score Avery Bradley for his defensive tenacity, particularly within the third,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel mentioned. “I felt prefer it actually energized our group and was an enormous a part of our early third-quarter run.”
Turner reported from Los Angeles.
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