BBNBA: Anthony Davis' 33 points leads Lakers to 105-104 win over Jazz

Anthony Davis continued to thrive in the JJ Redick-coached Laker offense Sunday night, scoring 33 points to lead Los Angeles to a 105-104 win over the Utah Jazz. As LA’s #1 option this season, AD is averaging a career high 28.4 PPG.

The NBA 75 member is currently fifth in the NBA MVP race according to basketballreference.com, holding a 1.6% chance to win the award. Three of the top six current frontrunners are former Kentucky players (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Davis, and Karl-Anthony Towns).

Unlike former head coaches Luke Walton, Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham in the Lebron-Laker era, Redick has made it a focal point to make Davis the lead offensive option. This has elevated Davis while constructing with a more team oriented play style for LeBron James. This was on great display Sunday night, as Davis hit 13 of his 25 shots while James finished with 27 points and 14 assists.

The Lakers are now 12-8 and currently share the Western Conference’s No. 5 seed with the Dallas Mavericks.

Shai and Herro pour in 30+ point performances in loss

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32) and Miami’s Tyler Herro (31) poured in 30+ point performances for their respective teams Sunday night, although both teams came away with a loss.

The Thunder fell to the surprisingly successful Houston Rockets at home, while Miami fell on the road to Toronto.

Shai’s Thunder, who opened the day with the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, now sit just a half game ahead of Houston following their loss. The Rockets have not made the playoffs since the 2019-20 season, but the addition of Reed Sheppard may just be changing their fortunes. Although the No. 3 pick scored just five points Sunday night, he is certainly helping usher in a new era in H-Town.

Cason Wallace got the start and scored 14 points for OKC in the loss.

As for the Heat, Bam Adebayo disappointed once again with just 13 points. Bam made just 5 of his 13 attempted shots, allowing the Immanuel Quickley-less Toronto Raptors to steal the win. He however did grab 20 rebounds, which is tied for the second most in a game in his career.

Washington’s Mavericks hold off Sharpe’s Blazers 137-131

The Dallas Mavericks rattled off their fourth consecutive win Sunday night, thanks in part to 14 points and six rebounds from P.J. Washington.

The trade from Charlotte to Dallas last season has been a difference maker for Washington, who is averaging a career high 9.0 rebounds a game. Prior to this season, his career high for rebounds per game was 6.5 in 2020-21.

In the loss, Shaedon Sharpe continued to impress for a young Trail Blazers squad. Sharpe poured in 22 points on 10-20 shooting, along with another highlight worthy dunk.

SHAEDON SHARPE WITH THE MEAN PUTBACK 😤🇨🇦

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/gktICCdzI2

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 2, 2024

Other BBNBA Notes:

• De’Aaron Fox (23) and Malik Monk (19) combined for 42 points Sunday night, but it was not enough as the Sacramento Kings fell to the San Antonio Spurs 125-127. Keldon Johnson had an efficient game for San Antonio, shooting 6-10 from the field with 17 points.
• Karl-Anthony Towns had an uncharacteristically quiet night from the field for the Knicks, scoring just 14 points. He however grabbed 19 rebounds in New York’s blowout 118-85 win over the lowly New Orleans Pelicans.
• The Denver Nuggets fell to the Los Angeles Clippers 122-126 Sunday night, although Jamal Murray contributed 18 points on 7-12 shooting.

12/1/24 BBNBA Statistics:

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-	MIN
Anthony Davis (LAL)	105-104 W @ UTA	33	13-25 (2-4)	11	0	2	1	1	6	39
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)	116-119 L @ HOU	32	10-19 (3-7)	8	5	2	0	2	6	36
Tyler Herro (MIA)	116-119 L @ TOR	31	9-16 (6-12)	4	3	2	0	1	-11	37
De’Aaron Fox (SAC)	125-127 L vs SA	23	9-23 (3-8)	6	9	2	1	2	-3	37
Shaedon Sharpe (POR)	131-137 L vs DAL	22	10-20 (2-6)	4	3	2	0	3	-1	37
Malik Monk (SAC)	125-127 L vs SA	19	7-14 (5-10)	7	6	1	1	2	-3	37
Jamal Murray (DEN)	122-126 L @ LAC	18	7-12 (2-4)	0	7	1	0	3	-1	38
Keldon Johnson (SA)	127-125 W @ SAC	17	6-10 (3-4)	4	1	0	0	0	-10	29
Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK)	118-85 W vs NO	14	4-12 (1-5)	19	2	1	1	2	17	25
Cason Wallace (OKC)	116-119 L @ HOU	14	5-11 (3-6)	9	2	0	0	0	3	36
P.J. Washington (DAL)	137-131 W @ POR	14	5-8 (4-6)	3	6	1	0	3	7	37
Bam Adebayo (MIA)	116-119 L @ TOR	13	5-13 (1-2)	20	7	1	0	5	15	39
Brandon Boston Jr. (NO)	85-118 L @ NYK	13	3-8 (1-3)	3	2	2	0	0	-8	19
Johnny Juzang (UTA)	104-105 L vs LAL	11	4-10 (2-6)	4	5	0	0	0	-3	16
Reed Sheppard (HOU)	119-116 W vs OKC	5	1-5 (1-4)	0	0	1	0	0	5	10
Antonio Reeves (NO)	85-118 L @ NYK	2	1-6 (0-2)	2	0	1	0	1	1	19
Jacob Toppin (NYK)	118-85 W vs NO	0	0-1 (0-1)	1	0	0	0	1	-5	5
Isaiah Jackson (IND)	121-136 L @ MEM	DNP – Achilles	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Trey Lyles (SAC)	125-127 L vs SA	DNP – Calf	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Immanuel Quickley (TOR)	119-116 W vs MIA	DNP – Elbow	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Oscar Tshiebwe (UTA)	104-105 L vs LAL	DNP – G-League	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL)	105-104 W @ UTA	DNP – Foot	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Tonight in the NBA:

• 7:30 PM: Pelicans (Boston Jr., Reeves) @ Hawks
• 7:30 PM: Heat (Adebayo, Herro) @ Celtics
• 8:00 PM: Nets @ Bulls
• 8:00 (NBA TV): Lakers (Davis, Vanderbilt: OUT) @ Timberwolves (Dillingham, Randle)