Russell Westbrook was once more on the bench because the clocked ticked down, the sport about to finish with out him on the ground.
This time, the choice to take away him from the sport received’t add gasoline to the Lakers’ inferno. It received’t be one other supply of drama.
No, Westbrook sat down on the bench subsequent to LeBron James, the 2 having simply linked on an alley-oop to assist end off the Orlando Magic 116-105 on Friday, beginning a important six-game street journey with a victory.
One other loss would’ve solely added to the noise and hypothesis on the finish of per week that’s encapsulated so many wild swings within the season. It started in Denver, the place the Lakers had been completely blown out by the Nuggets, a loss so dangerous that James left with out speaking to the press and a disgusted Magic Johnson ripped the workforce on Twitter.
The Lakers responded with their greatest win of the season, a defensive-minded victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday — the sort of pressure-releasing effort that seemingly stored the Lakers’ entrance workplace from making any drastic choices.
That endurance was rewarded Wednesday by a complete letdown towards the Indiana Pacers — a loss that got here with the added distinction of coach Frank Vogel benching Westbrook down the stretch.
“I used to be upset about it,” Westbrook stated of the benching. “Extra upset that we didn’t win the sport. That’s a very powerful half.”
Westbrook performed a profitable fashion of basketball Friday, unfazed by a jumper that missed off the highest of the backboard and a handful of missed pictures within the paint. He scored 18 factors and grabbed 11 rebounds to go along with seven assists and three steals. His three turnovers had been essentially the most he’s had within the Lakers’ final 5 video games, however he regarded far more snug and appropriate than he had over that stretch.
“Russ performed a extremely good basketball sport,” Vogel stated. “He got here in very centered and performed environment friendly offensively and introduced a pure power to the sport. He simply wished to impose his will, play his half and performed a hell of a sport.”
Vogel stated he spoke with Westbrook about his choice — one which had full help from Lakers administration, who've given him “full autonomy to make any teaching choices essential to win video games,” he stated. Vogel didn’t disclose when he spoke to Westbrook or what he stated, apart from to encourage him to maneuver on to the following sport.
“The communication is okay,” Westbrook stated. “Like I stated, Frank decided that he felt was greatest. My job as a participant, as an expert is to do my job, proceed to seek out methods to have the ability to assist affect profitable. That’s all I used to be desirous about and turned the web page to do and that’s what I attempted to do tonight.”
In opposition to the Magic, regardless of trailing by as many as 10 late within the first half, the Lakers didn’t panic. They learn the state of affairs and calmly reacted — a optimistic signal for a workforce on shaky floor.
To beat the Magic, the Lakers and Vogel once more wanted to shuffle his rotation, shifting 10-day-contract participant Stanley Johnson into the beginning lineup for the second half as a substitute of Dwight Howard.
The Lakers responded by happening a 19-2 run, most of it with Johnson on the courtroom, flipping the sport and finally grabbing ahold of it.
Vogel stated he made the swap as a result of the teaching workers was not sure how Orlando would play the returning Wendell Carter Jr., and the workforce wished Howard on the ground to face him. The Magic began Mo Bamba, and Carter crushed the Lakers’ second unit, outscoring them by 17 factors throughout his 11 minutes within the first half. Carter was solely a plus-1 within the second half after the Lakers’ adjustment.
Whereas the workforce has swung between smaller and greater lineups over the past week as its tried to resolve issues on one aspect of the ball, usually creating points on the opposite, it has continued to get constant manufacturing from James.
James scored 29 factors to guide the Lakers — his sixteenth straight sport with at the very least 25, all coming after Anthony Davis suffered his knee damage. Solely Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Elgin Baylor additionally scored 25 or extra for the Lakers in 16 straight.
The Lakers received 23 factors from Carmelo Anthony, together with 4 threes, 11 from Johnson and 10 from Malik Monk.
Following the chaos of the final week, James and Westbrook may cap their night time sharing fun on the tip of the bench. Every part isn’t fastened — and the following 5 video games on the street nearly definitely will check the Lakers’ flaws.
“We understood that this was going to be a tricky sport to start out the street journey,” James stated. “Any time you begin that six-game roadie away from dwelling, it’s at all times the hardest sport. However I’m pleased we had been capable of are available in and get the victory.”
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