BBNBA: Anthony Davis Propels Lakers to Group Play Sweep

DanielHagerKSR

First season of the NBA In-Season Tournament? No problem for the Los Angeles Lakers. Anthony Davis‘ 26 points and 16 rebounds helped propel the Lakers to a 4-0 sweep of group play and a 131-99 drumming of the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.

Thanks to their 4-0 walkthrough of Group Play (West A), the Lakers are likely to host a quarterfinal game next month to begin the knockout stages of the Tournament. In their four games of group play against the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Jazz, Davis averaged a double-double with 19.8 PPG and 13 RPG. Only Nikola Jokic has more 25/15 games than Davis this season.

Anthony Davis speaks on the importance of being aggressive and the luxury of rest in a blowout. pic.twitter.com/8xo9P8MHsV
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 22, 2023

Davis continued his strong play against the Jazz in his career, boosting his career numbers against Utah to 22.2 PPG and 9.7 RPG, a near double-double. His 26 points scored Tuesday night are the ninth most in a game against the Jazz in 31 career matchups. His 16 rebounds are the second most in a game against the Jazz in his career.

Tyrese Maxey Drops Fourth 30-Point Game of Season in Loss

Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points for the 18th time in his career Tuesday night in Philly’s 119-122 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Maxey, however, didn’t quite have the shooting night he would have wanted, making just three of 12 three-pointers attempted.

With the loss, the Sixers were eliminated from Tournament contention. Philadelphia is now 10-4 on the season, but two of their losses have come in Group Play.

The trade of James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers has really opened things up for Maxey, as four of his 18 career 30-point games have come in Philly’s first 14 games this season. Harden scored 30 points just six times during his 79-game tenure as a 76er.

Maxey chatted with Shaq, Chuck, Kenny, and Ernie on Inside the NBA before the game.

Tyrese Maxey checks in with the TNT crew ahead of NBA In-Season Tournament Tuesday 🗣️

Sixers/Cavs East Group A action is NEXT on TNT 🏆 pic.twitter.com/lztTurLBKb
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2023

Devin Booker Scores 28 as Suns Win Fourth in a Row

On a night when Kevin Durant became the NBA’s 11th all-time leading scorer, Devin Booker scored 28 points in Phoenix’s 120-107 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. 10 of Book’s points came from the free-throw line, where he was a perfect 10-10.

Phoenix won their fourth game in a row and improved to 2-1 in West Group A Group Play. Booker has played in just five games this season but is playing at an All-NBA level, averaging 28.8 PPG and 9.8 APG, a near double-double.

Shaedon Sharpe had a forgettable night for the Trail Blazers, pouring in just 10 points on 3-13 shooting (0-5 from three-point range).

Devin Booker is SMOOTH pic.twitter.com/Q4XqONaQvw
— Cage (@ridiculouscage) November 22, 2023

11/21/23 Statistics

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-	MIN
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)	119-122 L vs. CLE (OT)	30	11-28 (3-12)	4	6	1	0	1	-8	47
Devin Booker (PHX)	120-107 W vs. POR	28	9-20 (0-3)	3	6	1	1	1	+18	33
Anthony Davis (LAL)	131-99 W vs. UTA	26	11-14 (0-0)	16	4	2	0	2	+34	29
Shaedon Sharpe (POR)	107-120 L @ PHX	10	3-13 (0-5)	3	0	1	0	4	-20	32
Isaiah Jackson (IND)	157-152 W @ ATL	2	1-1 (0-0)	5	1	0	4	1	+8	12
Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL)	131-99 W vs. UTA	DNP-CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—