Powered by Anthony Davis, hot Lakers visit Suns
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Anthony Davis is enjoying his best stretch of the season and the Los Angeles Lakers aim to extend their season-long winning streak to four games Tuesday night when they visit the Phoenix Suns.
Davis hadn’t reached the 30-point mark prior to the current run but he is averaging 35 points a game during the span after outings of 37, 38 and 30 points.
Davis also is averaging 17.3 rebounds during a stretch in which the Lakers are playing without LeBron James (adductor), who is listed as questionable for Tuesday and could miss his fifth consecutive game.
Los Angeles coach Darvin Ham said the club will continue to be cautious with James. He sees no reason to rush things with the season not even 20 percent over.
“There’s no need to be in a hurry with him,” Ham said. “He’s going to definitely play a big bulk of games this season. It’s November.
“We have time on our side. … We just want to be as cautious as possible. So, again, it doesn’t turn into something that he’s constantly dealing with all season.”
Russell Westbrook was also ailing after injuring his right thumb during Sunday’s game. But post-game X-rays were negative, and Westbrook did not appear on Monday’s injury report, signaling he will play Tuesday.
In the Lakers’ 123-92 trouncing of the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, Davis had 30 points and matched his season best of 18 rebounds in only 27 minutes, 46 seconds on the court. The team reported Monday that the performance marked the first time a Laker had amassed 30 points and 15 rebounds in less than 30 minutes of action since Wilt Chamberlain did it in 1969.
He also became just the third player in Lakers history to post 30 points and 15 rebounds in three consecutive games, joining Shaquille O’Neal and Elgin Baylor.
“Everybody’s confidence is very high, while not getting too high,” Davis said. “Feels good to get three in a row. Now we’ve just got to carry it over to the road. Got to put some more wins together.”
The Lakers, after all, started the…
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