Lakers’ LeBron James, Anthony Davis flash midseason form in debut of Big Three

LOS ANGELES — The Big Three? The result remains to beryllium seen. But precise small has changed astir the Big Two.

In the archetypal preseason unveiling of their powerfulness trio, the Lakers’ archetypal prima duo shined the brightest connected Tuesday night. Between LeBron James (17 points) driving to the rim and Anthony Davis (20 points) soaring implicit it, the franchise showed itself to beryllium successful bully hands arsenic the bumpier process of integrating Russell Westbrook inched on during a 111-99 nonaccomplishment to the Golden State Warriors.

It was the team’s strongest accumulation showing during their 0-5 start, including a blowout nonaccomplishment connected Friday against these aforesaid Warriors. Although possibly that is excessively generous: Step Curry and Draymond Green took the nighttime disconnected for Golden State, allowing the Lakers to crank up the strength astatine the commencement of the 3rd 4th pursuing a 55-53 halftime lead.

Westbrook (10 points, 10 rebounds, six assists) has not yet breached his scoring funk, missing his archetypal 4 shots and struggling for the aforesaid finesse passing that has made him the NBA’s triple-double king. But successful a small-sample size, James and Davis showed that betwixt them, they’re inactive a formidable tandem by themselves finishing a combined 14 for 28 from the field.

The cardinal was tempo, which was cranked up astatine the start. James and Davis combined for an 8-for-8 commencement from the field. James took connected the relation of slasher, which helium did plentifulness the past clip helium wore No. 6 during his days with the Miami Heat – scoring 3 consecutive baskets astatine the rim. Davis was an aerial assailant, showing chemistry connected lob passes from Rajon Rondo for high-flying dunks that helium seldom had the legs for past season.

Injuries made it an awkward nighttime to capable retired the minutes. In summation to semipermanent injuries to Talen Horton-Tucker and Trevor Ariza, the Lakers were besides missing Kendrick Nunn (right ankle sprain), Malik Monk (right groin strain) and Wayne Ellington (left hamstring soreness). Veteran halfway DeAndre Jordan was fixed the nighttime disconnected for rest.

The Lakers person conscionable 1 preseason crippled remaining Thursday nighttime astatine Sacramento. They’ll unfastened the play astatine location against the Warriors connected Oct. 19.

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