Barnes scores career-high 32 points, but Raptors fall to Lakers for 3rd straight loss
Russell leads Los Angeles with 28 points in return from 6-game injury absence
D'Angelo Russell had 28 points and nine assists in his dynamic return from a six-game injury absence, and Dennis Schröder added 23 points and seven assists in the surging Los Angeles Lakers' 122-112 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
The superstar big man had only eight points and nine rebounds while struggling against Toronto's defence, but Russell and the Lakers' reserves took charge before Davis sealed the win on his only field goal of the second half with 46 seconds to play.
"That we were able to come away with this win against a really good team with only eight from [Davis], that's a sign of growth," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. "That's a sign of how deep and talented we are."
WATCH | Russell powers Lakers past Raptors:
Russell was the centrepiece of the Lakers' activity at the trade deadline, but the point guard appeared in only four games to begin his second stint in Los Angeles before spraining his right ankle. He returned to the starting lineup with a spring in his step, hitting five three-pointers while both making and celebrating a series of high-difficulty plays that had the Lakers' home crowd roaring repeatedly.
"I know this from being here [before]: The fans are ready to explode at a certain point in the game," Russell said. "I just wanted to bring that energy and give them that. ... It shouldn't go unnoticed, because our fans are the first to put a battery in someone's back that has a little momentum, so why not do the right things, bring that positivity and embrace what our fans have to offer?"
The Lakers moved into ninth place in the Western Conference three days ago with a win over Memphis, and they are excelling despite the lengthy absence of LeBron James. Russell and Schröder led an outstanding effort while the Lakers surged away to their sixth win in eight games since the all-star break. Los Angeles also went 19 for 19 at the free throw line.
Anunoby attributed the Raptors' fourth-quarter struggles to "them getting comfortable, them getting stops and playing with confidence. They hit shots, and it just carried over."
Toronto went 1-4 on a five-game road swing capped by back-to-back losses in Los Angeles despite long stretches of strong play throughout the trip.
Russell racked up 12 points and seven assists in the first half while the Lakers erased an early 15-point deficit in a game with several wild momentum swings. The Lakers managed just four field goals in a nightmare third quarter, but took a nine-point lead midway through the fourth with a 26-8 run.
Will Barton scored five points for Toronto in his return from a one-game absence with a non-COVID illness.
The Raptors host the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night.
