Lakers conducting Clippers, winning their first game after emotional Anthony Davis -handel

On February 5, 2025By Littum

Laker Austin Reaves drives past Clipper James Harden in the second quarter at Intuit Dome on Tuesday. (Wally scale/Los Angeles Times)

Of course Lakers were enthusiastic, a multi -year MVP candidate now sitting on the end of their bench in Luka DoncicA 25-year-old offensive maestro now on their list.

Of course, the offensive options are for him to play with LeBron James And with Austin Reavesof whipping passes to Dorian Finney-Smith and Rui Hachimura For open corner triangles have JJ Redick Ready to get to work.

But no matter what happened during Lakers’ 122-97 victory Over Clippers Tuesday, the team’s feelings after this trade are definitely more complicated.

In 47 games, Lakers tried to solve the problems their list presented, and found the best ways to cover their shortcomings, highlight their strengths and maximize their potential. And after one Win last Saturday night against KnicksLakers could see it.

They were close.

And then in a few moments everything was different. The previous season was over. The new season was about to start. And there was sadness in it.

“The guys will feel in a certain way,” said coach JJ Redick. “And there is a grieving process. There is a tension and a rebirth process. There are all these things and these things take time. It’s not, we don’t want to wave a magical wand and say, ‘Ah, we’re good today.’ As it takes time. The important thing is that the mission has not changed and how we are embarking on mission has not changed. “

But even without Anthony DavisEven without Max Christie And even without Doncic, who is still recovering from a calf injury, Lakers looked like a team that still intends to perform this mission, melancholy or not.

Against the rocks At Intuit Dome, Lakers continued to play with that kind of intensity, kind of focus and the kind of execution that made them believe they could win this season in the first place.

James, whom he was in most of Lakers’ recent Road Trip, played with the kind of timeless energy at both ends of the court, which should not be possible for a player in season 22. He scored 26 points on eight af- 13 shooting after Opening the game by making his first five shots. And without Davis or Christie on the floor, he was one of Lakers’ most active defenders.

Reaves and Hachimura scored 20 each – the 40 points only came on 27 combined shots. Reaves add nine assists. And Jaxson Hayes, Lakers’ probably the starting center that went on, played 24 minutes with six points, six rebounds, four assists – and only two errors – giving Lakers an athletic presence around the edge on both sides of the field.

Clippers who liked Lakers played their last match out east, so mostly lifeless in a game where they never led by more than one point. Kawhi Leonard, who cut Lakers’ defense at their last meeting, scored only 11 points in 23 minutes. Ivica Zubac, who dominated the interior so properly that Davis publicly asked for Lakers to add a center a day later, only made two shots to go with his 10 rebounds. And on the circumference, Finney-Smith James Harden harassed into a two-for-12 night, scoring only seven points, his second worst scoring game of the season.

Lakers held Clippers to 37.8% shooting, their fifth worst shooting games of the season. Lakers ended up with five different players with at least six rebounds.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.