Lakers defeat Utah after dismissing speculations of a LeBron James move.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Lakers were playing their last game before the All-Star break without LeBron James.
Perhaps he would be playing for the Golden State Warriors in an other reality.
In this instance? All it meant was that James and the Lakers managed to wrest one additional day before the break.
Before the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 138-122 on Wednesday morning, an ESPN article described attempts by the Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers to start trade talks with the Lakers regarding James before to last week’s deadline.
The calls were politely declined, according to sources who are not permitted to talk in public.
James’ mysterious hourglass emoji post served as the backdrop for the conversations around his availability, and his impatience with the deadline has become something of an annual ritual with the Lakers.
The fact that other clubs believed they had a chance to get James illustrates the discomfort surrounding the Lakers in the wake of their recent defeats by Atlanta and Houston. There might be turbulence throughout the offseason because of his player option this summer and the likelihood that his son Bronny James would declare for the draft.
The Lakers’ primary focus, according to coach Darvin Ham, is still inward.
“We have been derailed at different parts by injuries with our consistency, as we have stated early and frequently.
He recorded his 12th double-double in the previous 15 games with a team-high 37 points and 15 rebounds.
“Scoring the basketball is my first priority. Davis said, “And the remainder is second, third, fourth, and fifth. “However, when everyone is going, it’s obviously easier, like tonight.”
Rui Hachimura scored a career-high 36 points, helping to spark the Lakers’ offense since entering the starting lineup. D’Angelo Russell scored 11 points, dished out a career-high 17 assists, and pulled down nine rebounds in addition to Austin Reaves’ 22 points.
“I want to have an impact on the game as soon as I enter it.” stated Hachimura. That is always my objective. In addition to wanting to win the game, I also want to be the team’s X-factor, which may mean either
