Anthony Davis plays his first game against the Lakers since the trade tomorrow, so with no games today, and so many relevant characters with big roles in the NBA today, I thought this was a regular season game worth calling back to.
On 11/27/2019, Anthony Davis played his first career game against the Pelicans. The Pelicans played three pieces of that trade: Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and Jaxson Hayes.
In the first half, the 2nd and 3rd longest tenured Pelicans of all-time dominated. AD had 27 points (10-19), but Jrue Holiday's 25 (10-15) pushed the Pelicans to a 16-point lead.
At the end of the 3rd quarter, the Lakers cut the deficit to 10 behind AD scoring 36 of the Lakers' 79 points. Befitting the two players, AD collided with Josh Hart going for a rebound. His elbow was injured, treated, and he returned a few minutes later.
In the 4th quarter, LeBron finally wakes up and posts a line of 15/3/5/1/1, taking the lead with a jumper over Ingram. Ingram, Hayes, Hart and current Lakers' coach JJ Redick combine for 19 of the Pelicans 21 points to keep the game at 111-110.
111-110, 20 seconds left, Jrue Holiday gets a clutch steal on LeBron. BI drives for a layup to go-ahead, but AD swats it out before it even leaves his hands. JJ Redick gets an open shot off the inbound play, misses, and AD grabs the board. He puts the Lakers up 112-110.
Now with another chance to win, Jrue inbounds to BI and AD picks it off. He scores the two free throws to win 114-110 and get his 40-point game.
It had no repercussions on the sport, and thus is pretty much entirely forgotten. But it was dramatic and echoed a lot of what we'd see going forward from the players involved – either on one of these teams, or a future team they'd have a big role in.
| Player | Statline (P/R/A, STL/BLK) | Current Team |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Davis | 41/9/1, 3/1 | Dallas |
| LeBron James | 29/5/11, 2/1 | LA Lakers |
| Jrue Holiday | 29/6/12, 3STL | Portland |
| Brandon Ingram | 23/10/1, 3BLK | Toronto |
| Josh Hart | 9/5/1, 3 OREB | Knicks |
| JJ Redick | 18/4/2, 1STL | LA Lakers (Coach) |
| Jaxson Hayes | 7/4/1, 1/1 | LA Lakers |
22 comments
Weird to see JJ on the box score
I’ll always be thankful we got AD.
I really wanted AD to retire as a Laker. Not his fault his body betrayed him, the guy loved the organisation, got us a chip and wanted to be here. Respect
Imagine AD on this squad!?
Hayes?!
2019 – 2020 AD was really special; some of the most exciting big man play I’d ever watched. Could’ve given us just that season and I’d already consider him a Laker legend.
I respect both players. I think if this AD got traded for Luka there will be no complaints from anybody. He was a different beast in 2020.
Damn that jump shot looked so much smoother back then. Prime AD was such a treat to watch and him winning with us was even sweeter
AD moving like a completely different player here. Crazy to see
oh boy oh! six years ago he played for his former team (NOP) for the first time after a blockbuster trade at their home court (New Orleans), & tomorrow he might do it again against his former team (LAL) at their home court. how poetic. I love you AD. You were by far the best player at your tenure here in lakers. All love to LeBron as well but You were the deciding factor for us to win the chip. One day your jersey will be hanging at the Lakers rafters.
My guy AD was moving different in 2019-20.
Lol kuzs haircut!
Back when AD was considered a top 3 center and in MVP discussions regularly
Bron and AD before injuries was a problem.
Wish they could have run it back with the championship squad
Even when the team wasn’t winning after that, AD and bron together were always fun to watch
This team was so fun to watch
Game kinda summarises ADs career. Efficient player who can’t keep injuries away from himself. But at the end of the day, he’s a champion with nerves of steel.
This AD with the current Luka would probably be on their way to 70 wins, no knock on Bron but I think as a pick and roll ball handler I think Luka is just a more dynamic ball handler with a lot more options on how to score.
hard to imagine AD being THAT mobile. i totally forgot what that looked like.
He was a dawg man lol
AD isn’t going to be coming out to any boos tomorrow. Standing ovation and all love is what he’s getting from LA. Every time he scores he will hear cheers. Nothing but love for AD in Laker land.
I find it amusing how the organizers thought they would cook with blasting the Darth Vader theme. Like that video where one guy was walking behind four ICE officers with a speaker playing the same theme. I meam sure, you want to make a point about the other subject being bad/evil, but at the same time you’re also making them look badass.
No wonder AD dropped that statline and stole the game from them.
Were not going to actually Boo AD if he plays here are we? I love the guy.