Rui Hachimura, Anthony Davis Leads Lakers Past Jazz 138-122

Anthony Davis had 37 points and 15 rebounds and Rui Hachimura scored a career-high 36 points for the Los Angeles Lakers, who beat the Utah Jazz 138-122 on Wednesday. 

Their star player, Lebron James rested in the fina game before the All-stars match. 

“It’s kind of one of those trap games right before All-Star and you’re on the road. You get in late and you can easily fold … but we didn’t,” Davis said.

Hachimura made a career-best six 3-pointers and topped his previous high of 30 points, which he had reached four times in his five-year career.

Lebron had battled an ankle injury and sat out his second consecutive game. 

“I want to impact the game. My goal is to be the X-factor for the team, offensive or defensively. Be aggressive and use my size,” Hachimura said.

The Lakers have won six of seven, including four straight road wins.

“This is who we are. This is who we need to be,” Davis said. “We got to have an identity and we are starting to establish that.”

Collin Sexton surpassed 6,000 career points during the game and finished with 18 points for the Jazz, who have lost nine of 13 to fall out of the final play-in spot in the Western Conference. 

“We haven’t given up, so that’s one thing we have on this team. (We’re) just playing our hearts out. … We have a lot of potential with this team,” Markkanen said.

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