Anthony Davis Praised By NBA Fans as LeBron James, Lakers Win vs. Kevin Durant, Suns
Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIOctober 26, 2024
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers overcame a 22-point second quarter deficit to defeat the Phoenix Suns 123-116 on Friday evening.
Anthony Davis led L.A. with 35 points on 11-of-18 shooting (13-of-17 from free throw line), eight rebounds and two blocks. Austin Reaves added 26 points, eight assists and three steals. LeBron James posted 21 points and eight dimes.
L.A. shot 14-of-27 from three-point range, with Reaves making 5-of-7 from deep.
The Lakers trailed 48-26 early in the second quarter but kept chipping away and saw themselves down by just nine (61-52) going into the third. L.A. caught fire in that frame, scoring 35 points to take a two-point lead (87-85) into the fourth.
The Lakers soon went on a 20-10 run and held Phoenix at arm’s length for the remainder of the game.
Davis also scored nine points in the final 5:22, including this fast-break dunk after a James dish for a 113-102 lead with 2:59 remaining in regulation.
Los Angeles Lakers @LakersDwight is LOVING IT! pic.twitter.com/z5Qta8jiXZ
For the Suns, Kevin Durant led the way with 30 points, while Devin Booker added 23. But the host Lakers were too strong in the second half and gave first-year head coach JJ Redick a 2-0 start.
Davis was the superstar here three nights after he dropped 36 points and 16 rebounds in a season-opening 110-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
StatMamba @StatMambaAnthony Davis is the first Laker to have back-to-back 35-point games to start a season since Jerry West in 1969. pic.twitter.com/YNrsovPpTE
He got his well-deserved praise.
Lakers Lead @LakersLeadSTOP DISRESPECTING ANTHONY DAVIS pic.twitter.com/Pzpa3fTbkL
Legion Hoops @LegionHoopsANTHONY DAVIS HAS BEEN UNREAL THIS SEASON.
COMPLETE DOMINANCE. (via @realapp_) pic.twitter.com/tw6JbHFrAy
incognito tab #3 @notcrypticnoA healthy Anthony Davis season with a competent coach pic.twitter.com/p7GWqYIpia
Ball Don’t Stop @balldontstopPeople don’t realize how generational Anthony Davis was coming in. Best player in the world for stretches in NOLA too. It’s actually crazy that he doesn’t have an MVP or DPOY, but he’s still capable of doing that. Lakers running thru him all year will be fun.
Richard Staple, BSN, RN🇯🇲 @RichStaplessAnthony Davis:
35 points
8 rebounds
4 assists
1 steal
2 blocks
First Laker since 2005 to start a season with two straight 30+ games.
First Laker since Elgin Baylor to start a season with two straight 35+ games.
It’s Hub AD SZN and y’all gonna live in it whether or you like it… pic.twitter.com/QI9ygibESA
LakeShowYo @LakeShowYoANTHONY DAVIS IS MY MVP 🗣️🗣️🗣️
35 PTS | 8 REB | 4 AST
(via @realapp_) pic.twitter.com/DF6ECmKacg
ZeusThaPlug🔌⚡️💰 @PlugThaZeusAnthony Davis you are the best big in the league, I’ve been saying it for years. You’re showing them. DPOY type stuff. MVP type stuff.
antonio @beanhoopsAnthony Davis is tired… of the disrespect!
Deej🚀 @DjwarejrAnthony Davis is the current frontrunner for MVP
Sp🏀rtScape @sp0rt1llum1n8sAnthony Davis finally being empowered to become the best player on the team. Might get that MVP this season… if he can stay healthy. https://t.co/xwXrXGMdVl
Fight On ✌️ @B1G10TrojanAnthony Davis is going to be playing at an MVP player level caliber all year. He’s my favorite to win the MVP if the Lakers can solidify a top 6 seed in the Western
Conference. #LakeShow
Oliver Jake @PepeFel58185408Hopefully we finally have a full season of Anthony Davis as the backbone of the team and franchise player, so he can finally fight for the MVP and DPOY seriously.
BKS @BKSecretsportsAnthony Davis is here for it all, this is a warning RUN! Coming off an efficient off-season winning a Gold Medal terrorizing Olympic teams on both ends of the floor. He starts the 2024-2025 season with back-to-back 35 PT games.
Anything & everything is being ran through him,… pic.twitter.com/JBLeWPXEQ0
The Lakers will stay home Saturday when they host the Sacramento Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET.
