Grading Lakers Players After Victory Against Hornets: Davis Dominates With 42 Points

Anthony Davis delivered a masterclass performance with 42 points and 23 rebounds, propelling the Los Angeles Lakers to a 112-107 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night. Davis set the tone early, dominating the first quarter with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting while grabbing 11 rebounds. The Lakers used his scorching start to surge to a 39-19 lead, and despite a late Hornets rally, Los Angeles never trailed, securing their fourth consecutive win.

LeBron James added 22 points, and Austin Reaves chipped in 17 as the Lakers leaned on their stars to weather Charlotte’s late push. Davis was unstoppable throughout the game, hitting a variety of fadeaway jumpers and controlling the boards. His dominance on both ends left Hornets’ center Mark Williams struggling to keep up, underscoring the disparity in the paint.

The Lakers’ cohesion was on full display as four starters logged at least 36 minutes, showcasing their commitment to maintaining control despite a spirited effort by the Hornets. Los Angeles made 14 of their first 16 shots, an early offensive explosion that proved decisive in building a 23-point first-half cushion. Even as Charlotte cut the lead to six in the final minute, Dorian Finney-Smith sealed the win with a thunderous dunk over Miles Bridges.

The game marked a bittersweet night for the Hornets, as LaMelo Ball exited in the second quarter with a left ankle injury after stepping on Jarred Vanderbilt’s foot. Ball’s absence added to the Hornets’ challenges, though Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 26 points in a valiant effort.

With the victory, the Lakers extended their winning streak to four games and continue to climb in the Western Conference standings. Davis’ dominant outing reaffirms his status as one of the league’s premier big men, while LeBron James continues to orchestrate the offense with precision. Let's grade every Lakers player for his performance. 

Anthony Davis: A+

Stats: 42 PTS, 23 REB (8 OREB, 15 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 4 TO, 4 PF, 17-28 FG, 0-2 3PT, 8-10 FT, +16, 37 MIN

Davis delivered a performance for the ages, dominating on both ends of the floor with 42 points and 23 rebounds, including 8 offensive boards. His 21-point first quarter set the tone for the Lakers, as he overpowered Charlotte’s defense with an array of post moves, fadeaway jumpers, and second-chance opportunities. Davis also added 2 blocks and controlled the paint throughout the game. Despite a few turnovers, his efficiency (17-of-28 shooting) and relentless energy were key to the Lakers' victory, reaffirming his position as one of the league’s elite big men.

LeBron James: B+

Stats: 22 PTS, 7 REB (0 OREB, 7 DREB), 8 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 5 TO, 0 PF, 9-17 FG, 1-8 3PT, 3-5 FT, -1, 36 MIN

LeBron played a steady but less dominant game by his standards, contributing 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. While his playmaking was critical to the Lakers' early offensive explosion, his 5 turnovers and inefficiency from three-point range (1-of-8) slightly dampened his overall impact. Defensively, he was solid but unspectacular. Still, LeBron’s leadership and ability to orchestrate the offense were vital in securing the Lakers’ fourth straight win.

Austin Reaves: B-

Stats: 17 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 6 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 5-14 FG, 2-8 3PT, 5-7 FT, +0, 38 MIN

Reaves chipped in 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, showing his versatility as a secondary playmaker. He also recorded 3 steals, demonstrating his effort on the defensive end. However, his shooting was inconsistent, going 5-of-14 from the field and 2-of-8 from three-point range. Despite some inefficiency, Reaves provided timely scoring and energy, playing 38 minutes in a game where the Lakers relied heavily on their starters.

Max Christie: C+

Stats: 10 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 3-8 FG, 3-6 3PT, 1-1 FT, +14, 39 MIN

Christie had a solid outing with 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists, knocking down 3-of-6 attempts from beyond the arc. His shooting helped space the floor, and his +14 plus/minus highlighted his positive impact. However, he struggled to make an impact inside the arc (3-of-8 overall shooting) and was relatively quiet in other areas. Still, Christie’s ability to hit key threes helped the Lakers maintain their lead.

Jaxson Hayes: C+

Stats: 9 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 4-5 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-1 FT, -9, 17 MIN

Hayes provided a spark off the bench, scoring 9 points on 4-of-5 shooting in 17 minutes. Defensively, he contributed 2 steals and 2 blocks, using his athleticism to disrupt Charlotte’s offense. However, he didn’t record a single rebound, which is unusual for a big man and limited his overall effectiveness. Despite this, Hayes’ energy and efficient scoring made him a helpful contributor in limited minutes.

Dorian Finney-Smith: C+

Stats: 6 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 3-4 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +13, 27 MIN

Finney-Smith’s numbers may not jump off the page (6 points and 5 rebounds), but his defense and hustle were critical, as reflected in his +13 plus/minus. He capped off the game with a thunderous dunk that effectively sealed the win for the Lakers. While he didn’t contribute much in terms of playmaking, his defensive effort and ability to finish efficiently (3-of-4 shooting) were valuable in a close game.

Jarred Vanderbilt: C

Stats: 4 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 2-5 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +3, 13 MIN

Vanderbilt had a quiet game with 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals in 13 minutes. While his defensive activity was solid, he didn’t make a significant impact on the boards or offensively, shooting just 2-of-5 from the field. His limited minutes reflect the Lakers’ reliance on their starters, but Vanderbilt still provided energy and defensive versatility in his short stint.

Dalton Knecht: C

Stats: 2 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 1-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -5, 21 MIN

Knecht struggled to make an impact offensively, scoring just 2 points on 1-of-3 shooting in 21 minutes. He grabbed 2 rebounds and recorded 1 steal but was limited overall, finishing with a -5 plus/minus. His offensive game was quiet, and his 4 fouls further limited his effectiveness. 

Shake Milton: C

Stats: 0 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -6, 12 MIN

Milton had a rough night, going scoreless on 0-of-2 shooting in 12 minutes. He grabbed 2 rebounds and dished out 1 assist but failed to provide much of an impact offensively or defensively. His 3 personal fouls and -6 plus/minus reflect his struggles in a limited role.