Anthony Davis explodes for 55 as Lakers take care of Wizards

A monster 55-point, 17-rebound outing courtesy of Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis has propelled the team past the Wizards 130-119 in Washington, D.C. for their eighth win from their last 10 games.

Davis has been on an absolute tear of late for LA and is now averaging 28.6 ppg, 12.8 rpg and 2.4 bpg on the year.

After missing four of his first five shots, Davis hit all nine of his free throw attempts and 21 of his final 26 field goal attempts to finish with his highest points tally as a Laker.

His astonishing night came less than 48 hours after his 44-point, 10-rebound effort in LA’s 133-129 win over the Bucks in Milwaukee.

He joins Shaquille O’Neal as the only Lakers to record 40+ points and 10+ rebounds in back-to-back games – a feat O’Neal accomplished in 2000.

Over his past nine games, Davis has averaged 35.3 ppg, 15.6 rpg and 2.9 bpg.

The Lakers have gone 7-2 over that stretch.

LeBron James’ improved play was also on display in Washington with the soon-to-be 38-year-old putting up 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists on 12-of-26 shooting.

Lonnie Walker IV also put up 20 points in just 25 minutes on 7-of-10 from the field and 4-of-4 from three whilst Russell Westbrook had six points, seven rebounds and 15 assists off the bench.

The Lakers got off to a fast start to take an 18-point lead into halftime which ballooned out to 29 midway through the third quarter.

In what has become a frustrating habit, however, they allowed the lead to dwindle late in the piece with the Wizards coming within single digits with less than six minutes to play.

Darvin Ham’s men held on, however, to claim their eighth victory in 10 games.

The Wizards lost star Bradley Beal in the first quarter due to a hamstring complaint and struggled to replace his offensive output particularly with forward Kyle Kuzma battling through foul trouble.

The Lakers outshot the Wizards from the field and, whilst both teams hit 10 threes, LA shot just 26 attempts to Washington’s 39.

The Lakers won the battle in the paint – 72 to 62 – and on the glass – 51-44.

Kristaps Porziņģis led the way for Washington finishing with 27 points and nine rebounds on 11-of-25 shooting whilst Kuzma had 26 points (17 in the fourth), seven rebounds and four assists on 10-of-21 shooting before fouling out.

The Wizards will next be in Chicago on Thursday whilst the Lakers are in Cleveland Wednesday.

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