With both defenses in All-Star Break mode, the Lakers had the right amount of offensive firepower to overwhelm Utah and continue their flaming start to February.
As LeBron James (left ankle) watched from home, Anthony Davis and Rui Hachimura made for a defense-destroying duo in the Lakers’ 138-122win, which put them at a 6-1 beginning to the month.
The Jazz had no answer for Davis at the rim, as he racked up 37 points and 15 rebounds. Meanwhile, Hachimura caught fire from across the floor with a career-high 36 points, as the pair became the first Lakers teammates to score 35+ points in the same game since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in 2003.
While Davis hit a handful of rangy jumpers, it was his size and athleticism that carried the day against the Jazz, whose lack of rim protection contributed to four rim-shaking dunks from the big man.
Meanwhile, Hachimura was in flamethrower mode, hitting a personal-best six 3-pointers. Though he was deadly from outside, he too also bullied the smaller Jazz defenders, using his strength to body his way to the basket consistently while mixing in some acrobatic finishes and finishing 13-of-19 from the field.
Hachimura wasn’t the only Laker to set a career-high, as D’Angelo Russell passed out 17 assists — two more than his previous mark. Russell, who has been scorching as both a scorer and passer of late, also arrived to the doorstep of a triple-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.
And with so many ridiculous statlines on the night, it could be easy to overlook the efficient contributions of Austin Reaves, who had a 22-point, seven-assist game while hitting 9-of-13 field goals.
The Lakers will now have seven days between games for All-Star — where they will be represented by Davis and James — before beginning their final 26-game stretch with a trip to see the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 22.
The Lakers currently sit one game above Golden State for ninth place in the Western Conference.