In an NBA regular season game held on January 22, 2025, Beijing time, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Washington Wizards at home with a score of 111 to 88. This victory not only solidified the Lakers' ranking in the West but also led to the Wizards' embarrassing 11-game losing streak. The Lakers demonstrated their strong team collaboration and individual abilities, particularly their effective defense that limited the Wizards, making it difficult for them to mount an effective counterattack.
The outstanding performances of LeBron James and Anthony Davis were undoubtedly key factors in the Lakers' victory. James achieved a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists, surpassing Scottie Pippen's career steals record to reach seventh place in history. Davis contributed a comprehensive stat line of 29 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks. Other players such as Reeves and Finney-Smith also had commendable performances, scoring 16 points each.
Despite some notable performances from the Wizards' Beal, Sar, and Kuzma, the overall gap in strength made it challenging for them to compete with the Lakers. Beal, who was in poor form, still managed to contribute 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Sar had a well-rounded performance with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 5 blocks. Kuzma contributed 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists.
After watching the game, we can identify four pleasant surprises:
Firstly, James, at the age of 40, is still able to deliver star-level performances. In this game, James played for 35 minutes, shooting 8 out of 18 from the field, 2 out of 6 from three-point range, and 3 out of 3 from the free-throw line, scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, with a plus-minus of +19, which was the third-highest on the team. James also reached a milestone in his career steals record during the game, completing an incredible dunk over Valan, who he had targeted. With this game, James officially surpassed Pippen in career steals, ranking seventh in NBA history with 2,308 steals. Next, he aims to catch up to Cheeks' 2,310 steals. It is expected that James will soon achieve this feat. Additionally, James recorded his ninth triple-double of the season, trailing only Jokic, and this was his 121st career triple-double. As a player in his forties, it is truly astonishing and delightful to see him maintain such dominance on the court.
Secondly, Davis has finally found his form, delivering a dominant interior performance that allowed the Lakers to secure the win. Davis played for 32 minutes, shooting 14 out of 22 from the field, 1 out of 3 from three-point range, and 0 out of 1 from the free-throw line, scoring 29 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks, with a plus-minus of +20, second only to Christie. Davis once averaged over 30 points per game this season, but his offensive efficiency has significantly declined recently, currently averaging only 26 points. Fortunately, he faced a less formidable Wizards' frontline today, allowing him to showcase his skills. His opponent, the second overall pick Sar, had a disappointing performance, playing for 27 minutes, shooting 5 out of 14 from the field, and 0 out of 3 from three-point range, scoring only 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 5 blocks. Looking at Sar's stats, only the 5 blocks are noteworthy, while the rest are unremarkable. Additionally, former Lakers' big man Kuzma scored 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, shooting 5 out of 13, with low efficiency.
Thirdly, although Rivers had average shooting, his defense remained solid, and his organizational skills and defense were surprising. The All-Star-level point guard Rivers surprisingly had a subpar game against the weak Wizards, playing for 36 minutes, shooting 4 out of 15 from the field, and 1 out of 8 from three-point range, with low efficiency, scoring 16 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal. However, his plus-minus was +18, the fourth-highest on the team. His opponent, Wizards' guard Beal, played for 34 minutes, shooting 5 out of 18 from the field and 4 out of 12 from three-point range, scoring 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, with a negative 11 plus-minus, which is also quite low.
Lastly, the newly traded Lakers player Finney-Smith finally had his breakout game, playing for 22 minutes, shooting 6 out of 8 from the field and 4 out of 6 from three-point range, scoring 16 points and 2 rebounds. The Lakers targeted Finney-Smith due to his impressive 45% three-point shooting rate with the Nets this season, and he is a proven defensive powerhouse. Playing alongside James and Davis, he had numerous open opportunities. Initially, there were hopes that he could replicate his shooting form from the Nets, but in his first few games with the Lakers, his performance deteriorated, losing his shooting touch. He gradually became a role player with little influence, but fortunately, Finney-Smith proved his worth today. When his shot is on, he remains the most reliable 3D player.
After this game, the Western Conference standings have undergone significant changes. The Thunder, with a record of 35 wins and 7 losses, firmly hold the top spot in the West. The Rockets, with 28 wins and 14 losses, rank second in the West, followed closely by the Grizzlies with 28 wins and 15 losses, ranking third in the West. The fourth-place Nuggets also secured a big win today, ending with a record of 27 wins and 16 losses, ranking fourth in the West. The win rates of these three teams from second to third are not significantly different. The fifth-place Clippers have 24 wins and 18 losses, and the sixth-place Lakers have 23 wins and 18 losses, with a small gap between them. These two teams will be competing for the top five spots in the West in the near future. The Lakers have a significant advantage due to their relatively easy schedule. In the next five games, except for the upcoming battle against the Celtics on the 24th, the other four teams pose no threat to the Lakers. On the 26th, facing the 11th-ranked Warriors in the West, the Lakers can almost guarantee a win. On the 28th, facing the Hornets will not be too challenging, and on the 29th, they will play back-to-back against the Sixers, one of the bottom teams in the East. That should also be a winnable game. On the 31st, they face the Wizards again. If everything goes as expected, the Lakers should be able to secure at least four victories in their next five games, giving them a high likelihood of breaking into the top five in the West.