Here is what you need to know before the Lakers matinee against the Dallas
Mavericks.
1) Ingram is cookin’ It’s been a steamy week for Brandon Ingram, who has
scored 20-plus points in three of four games, averaging 20.8 in this stretch.
The 20-year-old has hit a blistering 60.0 percent of his shots over this
stretch, and has done so by thriving at all three scoring levels.
Ingram has used his trademark length and finishing ability to shoot 10-of-14 on
layups. He has taken advantage when defenses surrender the mid-range, hitting
8-of-11 pull-up jumpers. And his stroke from deep has been hot, going 7-of-11 on
3-pointers after missing all of his previous nine attempts.
And all the while, the small forward has made strides as a secondary playmaker,
averaging 4.8 assists over the past week.
Ingram thrived at the beginning of the season almost exclusively because of his
gift for driving to the hoop. As defenses have adjusted to his game, developing
his jumper and passing as counters will be crucial.
And if the last four games are a preview of what’s to come, he is going to be a
problem for defenses for years.
2) Nance is putting in work The starting frontcourt of Julius Randle and
Brook Lopez has been an overall success for the Lakers, but when as duo shot
just 1-of-11 from the field against San Antonio on Thursday, L.A. turned to
Larry Nance Jr.
Like Ingram, Nance has hit his stride recently, putting up 12.3 points and 8.7
rebounds over his last three games while shooting 16-of-21 from the field —
mostly by waiting for playmakers to find him cutting to the hoop.
He put forth one of his best efforts yet in the win over the Spurs, notching a
double-double while anchoring a defense that largely kept a red-hot LaMarcus
Aldridge in check (20 points on 6-of-15 shooting).
Yet Nance’s chief contribution may have been his ability to extend possessions
by battling on the offensive glass. The Lakers scored on each of his five
offensive rebounds, giving L.A. an extra 11 points in a win by a dozen.
Oh, and he also had his teammates raising the roof after jet-packing up for a
monster fast-break alley-oop.
Larry Nance Jr. does it again!! #LetLarryDunk (: TNT) pic.twitter.com/jbP5scfajj
3) Lakers are looking to get the Mavs off their backs For whatever
combination of reasons, the Lakers have not been able to figure out the
Mavericks over the last four years, losing 14 in a row to Dallas.
At first glance, the Lakers — winners of three straight — should have a good
shot against the 15-28 Mavs, but their hosts have also been hot lately.
Dallas has won six of their last nine games thanks to an electric offense that
has the league’s second-best offensive rating over this stretch (113.3).
The formula has good playmaking, few turnovers and a ton of 3-pointers.
Harrison Barnes is steadily good for 20-plus points a night. Wesley Matthews and
Yogi Ferrell have been bombarding from deep. Dwight Powell is the league’s most
efficient pick-and-roll big.
Longtime Lakers nuisance J.J. Barea has been effective driving the offense as
the backup point guard, but the x-factor is starter Dennis Smith Jr.
The rookie hasn’t been efficient with his shot (or layups) this season, but has
been grooving recently on a seven-game streak of double-digit scoring.
Injury Report Lakers: None. Mavericks: Seth Curry (stress reaction, left tibia),
Dorian Finney-Smith (left knee quadriceps tendinitis) and Nerlens Noel (left
thumb surgery) are out.
Tip-Off: 11 a.m. PT TV: Spectrum SportsNet and Spectrum Deportes Radio: 710 ESPN
and 1330 KWKW Unis: Gold Location: American Airlines Center — Dallas, Texas
Click here to view game notes for this contest.
The homestand was fun but it’s time to take the #LakeShow on the road! DAL MEM
OKC
A post shared by Los Angeles Lakers (@lakers) on Jan 12, 2018 at 1:08pm PST
Player: Brandon Ingram
Player: Larry Nance Jr.
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