No LeBron James, no problem: Lakers bully Jazz

(Photo credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports)

Anthony Davis amassed 37 points and 15 rebounds and Rui Hachimura scored a career-high 33 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 138-122 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City.

Davis, who played poorly in the Lakers’ loss in Utah last month, made 13 of 24 field-goal attempts and scored 17 points in a decisive third quarter to push Los Angeles into the All-Star break on a winning note.

The Lakers won their third straight game and improved to 6-1 over their past seven despite LeBron James sitting out to tend to a left ankle injury.

Hachimura filled the superstar’s void by draining five 3-pointers in the game and scoring 21 points in the first half. Austin Reaves added 20 points, D’Angelo Russell dished out 14 assists to go along with 11 points and new Laker Spencer Dinwiddie added 10 points off the bench.

Utah suffered its third straight lopsided loss since trading away three regulars at last week’s trade deadline. Collin Sexton scored 18 points, Jordan Clarkson had 17 points and Lauri Markkanen chipped in with 16 points and eight rebounds. John Collins totaled 11 points and 10 boards.

Defense was the big issue for the Jazz, who allowed the Lakers to score 70 points in the first half and at least 30 points in all four quarters. Los Angeles shot 57.3 percent from the field and nailed 12 of 26 attempts from beyond the arc.

The Jazz, who overcame a 14-point, first-half deficit, took a four-point lead just after halftime after a Keyonte George bucket and a Sexton 3.

With under 6 1/2 minutes remaining in the third quarter, Davis had an offensive explosion. He scored 10 straight Los Angeles points and 17 of 22 for the Lakers, who built a double-digit lead. Los Angeles scored the final 12 points of the period, taking a 108-92 advantage into the fourth.

Collins converted a three-point play with 9:39 left in the game to pull Utah within 113-102, but that was the closest the Jazz would get.

–Field Level Media