Lakers win in OT thanks to clutch three from Matt Ryan.
The Lakers win it in overtime against the Pelicans, 120–117, thanks to a clutch corner 3-pointer from Matt Ryan with no time left to give the Lakers a chance to win it in overtime, improving their record to 2–5.
“The play was definitely intended for [Matt Ryan]” said coach Ham. “Austin [Reaves] threw a hell of a pass, and we were fortunate.”
It looked all over for the Lakers, down three with under 2 seconds left and free throws ahead for the Pelicans. A pair of missed free throws gave the Lakers a pulse to tie it with Matt Ryan’s corner three.
Ryan finished with 11 points on 3-for-11 (33%) shooting from behind the arc and 4-for-11 (36%) overall in 18 minutes off the bench.
“This is definitely the biggest shot of my life,” Ryan said.
Despite shooting 28% (10-for-36) from three as a team, the Lakers were able to find a way into the win column for the second straight game, with six players scoring in double figures.
The Lakers’ starting unit combined for 83 points, with three of the five starters scoring 20 points or more.
Before cooling down in the second half, Russell Westbrook continued his high energy in his new role as the team’s sixth man, commanding the second unit with flashes of the all-star player he was not so long ago.
“One of my goals is to get him (Russ) in the conversation for Sixth Man of the Year, and why not start now?” said Ham.
Westbrook finished with 13 points on 60% (6-for-10) shooting, with 9 assists and 7 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. Sixth Man of the Year!? Possibly!
Lonnie Walker missed the potential three that would have sent the game into overtime before Ryan’s three, but that didn’t shake his confidence, and he knocked down the first three (and first bucket) of overtime on his way to a 28-point night.
“My jump shot is too beautiful to not be making any threes,” Walker said with Mike Trudell after the game.
Walker was the game’s leading scorer, finishing with a season-high 28 points on 55% (5-for-9) shooting from three and 53% (9-for-17) overall from the floor in 40 minutes.
LeBron’s struggles from three continued to haunt him in Wednesday’s win, as he finished 0-for-7 from behind the arc while still being able to finish with 20 points due to his high percentage in the paint.
LeBron expressed that this morning was the first time he had left his bed since the game on Sunday night due to a non-COVID illness. He wasn’t sure if he would play today because his foot had been hurting that badly. “I’ve felt better,” he said before saying he was going straight to bed tonight.
Anthony Davis finished with his third straight double-double of the season, ending the night with 20 points, 16 rebounds, 4 blocks, 4 assists, and a steal in 37 minutes.
“Trying to stay in this moment of remembering how winning feels, we want to continue to do it,” Davis said. “All the guys are engaged. We knew our defense was doing its job and just needed our offense to catch up. It’s starting to click.”
Davis also clarified that his back was feeling “great” in his final question on the podium, giving everyone relief and reassurance on his health status.
The Lakers’ next matchup remains at home this Friday night against the surprisingly 6–3 Utah Jazz at 7:30 PM on Spectrum SportsNet.
