Here is a by-the-numbers look at the Lakers’ 101-87 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
4
Blocks by Ed Davis, which were his most since tallying four against Utah on April 17, 2013. L.A.’s big man recorded all four of his swats in the fourth quarter and was the key to Philadelphia shooting just 18-for-48 (36.7 percent) in the paint all night long. Davis also shouldered plenty of responsibility with the rest of his game, pitching in eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Davis Puts Noel on a Poster
“Ed did an unbelievable job protecting the rim, and, in a lot of ways, he was the most valuable player of the game,” Jeremy Lin said. “He protected the rim, got a bunch of rebounds, and that’s what started our break. That’s what allowed us to get open, and from there we were able to get a rhythm as a team.”
6
Philadelphia’s lead at halftime. The 76ers’ edge evaporated almost instantaneously, as the Lakers opened up the second half on a 10-1 run to grab the 51-48 lead. However, the Sixers fought back, regaining the edge 55 seconds later. They kept it close for the rest of the third quarter, but any momentum fell apart for Philadelphia in the final period.
18
Shots missed by the Sixers in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia shot just 18.2 percent (4-for-22) in the last frame, including 2-for-12 in the paint and 0-for-5 on second-chance opportunities. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ offense capitalized by going on runs of 14-2 and 6-0, which keyed a 27-12 fourth-quarter scoring advantage.
76ers Shot Chart (Fourth Quarter)
“I thought as a team we got selfish in that second half,” 76ers head coach Brett Brown said. “We didn’t move the ball like we did in the first half. We were too ball-dominant with our point guards; and the ball, as a team, didn’t move. I give the Lakers credit for a lot of that.”
29
Points scored by Lin, who set a new season high. Playing just 29 minutes, Lin came off the bench and shot 10-for-16 to record his highest scoring total in purple and gold. The first-year Laker picked up his team when the game rolled on, dropping 21 points in the second half, including 12 in the fourth quarter. Like Davis, he also contributed in other areas by collecting five rebounds and five assists.
Jeremy Lin Shot Chart
“I though he played extremely well,” head coach Byron Scott said. “He made great decisions. On the offensive end, he got guys involved. He was aggressive. Defensively, he was where he was supposed to be and did a lot of good things on that end of the floor as well.”
Lin Dishes to Davis
36.0
Percentage shot from the field by the 76ers. Philadelphia’s offensive rut was not limited to the fourth quarter, as it shot the lowest percentage by a Lakers opponent since Minnesota on Dec. 20, 2013 (34.7). The Sixers, who rank last in the league in field goal percentage (40.9), received an especially subpar performance by their starters, who combined to shoot 14-for-44 (31.8 percent). Meanwhile, Isaiah Canaan came off the bench and missed 11 of his 12 shots.