SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Anthony Davis scored 37 points with 15 rebounds and Rui Hachimura added a career-high 33 points with LeBron James resting as the Lakers defeat the Utah Jazz 138-122 on Wednesday night.
Davis and Hachimura became the first pair of Lakers teammates to both score 35+ points in the same game since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in 2003.
Hachimura made a career-best six threes on his way to his big night.
“I want to impact the game. My goal is to be the X-factor for the team, offensive or defensively. Be aggressive and use my size,” Hachimura said.
Austin Reaves chipped in 20 points as the Lakers picked up their third straight victory before heading to the All Star break.
With the win, the Lakers are now 6-1 in February. Los Angeles has won four straight games in the road.
“This is who we are. This is who we need to be,” Davis said. “We got to have an identity and we are starting to establish that.”
The Lakers were a blistering hot 57.1% from the field and shot 45% from three.
“I think you just find what’s working and feed that. It allows the game to open up for everybody,” Russell said.
Guard Spencer Dinwiddie playing in his second game with the Lakers put in 10 points with four assists.
Los Angeles now goes to the All Star break sitting at, 30-26, which places them in ninth place in the Western Conference. This win puts the Lakers only four games back of the sixth seeded New Orleans Pelicans.
“We are just playing the right way, sharing the basketball and playing together. Guys are making shots and we’re just in a great groove and having fun,” Davis said
The Lakers don’t play again until February 22nd when they travel to play the Golden State Warriors.
The team is hoping to be a much healthier roster playing some of its best basketball of the season.
Davis and the Lakers made a run last season and are hopeful to do so once again after the break.
