The Lakers have been playing under the pressure of injuries this season, with players like Vanderbilt, Wood, and Hayes constantly out due to injuries. This has left the Lakers' bench rotation short-handed. Although Vincent returned this season, his shooting form has been poor, unable to help the team win games. Instead, young stars like Knickert and Christie have become important rotational players. Due to the severe injury problems within the team, these young stars have received more opportunities for training. The Lakers' "Big Three" exploded with a combined 76 points, 22 assists, and 18 rebounds, while James set a miracle, proving that the new star is indeed very useful.
In the game between the Lakers and the Warriors, Davis had to leave the game due to an injury in the opening minutes. James and Curry led their teams in a fierce battle, with the score constantly changing hands. The Lakers' young stars Knickert and Christie exploded in the second quarter, leading the team on a 16-2 run to help the Lakers take the lead at halftime. The Lakers had established a lead of around 10 points by the third quarter, but Curry and Wiggins scored continuously, going on a 9-0 run, resulting in a fierce tug-of-war entering the final quarter. In the decisive moments, Curry hit consecutive three-pointers to help the Warriors tie the score, but Reeves made crucial free throws and completed a layup to secure the victory. The Lakers narrowly defeated the Warriors.
Davis only played for 7 minutes before spraining his ankle, but fortunately, post-game tests showed no major issues, and he still wants to play in the next game. James scored efficiently with 31 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. Curry scored the highest with 38 points, 1 rebound, and 6 assists, giving it his all, but even his consecutive difficult three-pointers were not enough to save the team. Reeves scored 26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal, completing a layup to seal the victory, which Wiggins was unable to defend against.
Hachimura scored efficiently with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block. The Lakers' young stars Christie and Knickert performed outstandingly, with Christie scoring 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, and Knickert contributing 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block from 9 shots and 5 makes. Although Knickert and Christie's mid-to-long-range shots are not very accurate, they make up for it by scoring close to the basket and exerting strong defensive pressure, making them formidable opponents. With Davis out, the Lakers relied on Hachimura, Christie, and Knickert to make up for the scoring.
James, Reeves, and Hachimura, the Lakers' "Big Three," erupted together, combining for 76 points, 22 assists, and 18 rebounds to lead the team to victory. LeBron James also set multiple records. James surpassed the 500-point milestone in Christmas Day games, ranking first in history. He has achieved 11 wins in Christmas Day games, also ranking first in NBA history, with Wade's 10 wins ranking second historically. In the total scoring rankings for Christmas Day games, James leads with 507 points, followed by Kobe with 395 points, Oscar Robertson with 377 points, Durant with 315 points, and Wade with 314 points. At 39 years and 361 days old, James became the oldest player in NBA history to score over 30 points in a Christmas Day game.
The Lakers' new stars are indeed becoming increasingly useful, with Christie and Knickert becoming more stable. Since Christie joined the starting lineup, he has played exceptionally well: although his offensive scoring is not high, he is efficient, and his defensive prowess is extremely strong, limiting his opponents' shooting percentage to the lowest on the Lakers team. Knickert has also found his place in the bench lineup, adjusting his approach when his three-point shooting is off, opting to attack the basket and seek opportunities. Young players should learn to change their strategies and use their speed to score. Can Lakers General Manager Pelinka strengthen the team by trading for a center? Consider any of the following options: Wizards' Valanciunas, Bulls' Vucevic, or Jazz's Kessler.
