Lakers still lose despite Anthony Davis' unprecedented performance
Anthony Davis put up a stat line no one has ever matched. It wasn't enough to get a win.
No one had put up 35 points, 20 rebounds, five steals, and three blocks in 34 years. No one had done that with five blocks...ever. But even with this impressive box score line, the Phoenix Suns still defeated his Los Angeles Lakers, 115-105.
Davis is in strong historical company. The group of players with a 35/20, five blocks, and just three steals are all Hall of Famers - David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar twice, and Elvin Hayes. For players with a 35/20, five steals, and three blocks, the list is Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Kareem again, George McGinnis, and John Drew - all Hall of Famers but one.
Sadly, Davis does not have a Hall of Fame supporting cast this season. Although Davis made three times as many free throws as Phoenix's entire team attempted, the Suns sent the Lakers to their sixth road loss in six tries. The loss broke the Lakers' three-game winning streak, during which Davis dominated in LeBron James' absence.
The one statistical category Davis didn't fill up was three-point shooting, where he didn't attempt a shot. The Lakers are the league's worst outside shooting team, and Tuesday night was another poor example. The Suns made 16-34 from deep. The Lakers made four out of 22.
AD's heroics this week were enough to get the Lakers three home wins. But even his historic night wasn't enough when starters Troy Brown Jr. and Patrick Beverley scored zero points. Beverley also got himself ejected.
Davis is having an all-time run with some all-time terrible teammates. LeBron can't get healthy soon enough.
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