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“He Owed Us”: Darvin Ham Makes an Honest Confession About D’Angelo Russell’s Crucial Play After Nearly Costing the Lakers With Late Turnovers

Published 01/28/2024, 7:53 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

In a nail-biting game against the Golden State Warriors, D’Angelo Russell gave an incredible performance that had the Lakers fans on the edge of their seats. Russell demonstrated his offensive brilliance and ability to step up in clutch situations by scoring 28 points, making 5 assists, and collecting 3 rebounds. However, despite his great offense, D’Lo had some flaws in his game that threatened to overshadow his contributions.

Four turnovers in critical situations, plus a few more in overtime, raised questions and produced major stress among Lakers fans because his errors not only allowed the Warriors to capitalize but also put the Lakers in a dangerous situation. However, the Lakers managed to win as Russell made a 3-point shot during crunch time and showed that he is not afraid of taking responsibility in crucial moments. Even the head coach Darvin Ham spoke about the 27-year-old guard’s performance and said, “He owed us.”

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However, he further praised him for his performance by saying, “I think that was right after he had turned the ball over a couple times so he knew he had to make something happen. That’s just who he is. He has that confidence, that’s why we love him here.”

As the Lakers won with a score of 145-144, the match went into a double overtime with Russell playing for 49 minutes of the game. This not only shows his endurance but also his determination to achieve glory for his team. Not only Russell, but the entire Lakers roster performed exceptionally well and displayed their unity to ensure this two-game winning streak. However, D’Lo was not the only star of the evening as other veterans carried the game.

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LeBron James & Anthony Davis sealed the deal for the Lakers

The Lakers’ cornerstone LeBron James showed off his skillset by achieving a triple-double with 36 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists. Earning 20 rebounds in a single game was a new career-high for the Akron Hammer, and he even displayed his level of fitness and endurance by playing for 48 minutes even at his age of 39. Not only him but even Anthony Davis managed to get a double-double with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists.

USA Today via Reuters

Even though he suffered a groin injury in the middle of the match, he played through the pain, as his rebounding skills were extremely crucial for the victory of the Lakers. However, due to this injury, Davis might miss some upcoming matches, as he was seen limping to the locker room after the game ended. Now as the season progresses and the Lakers have finally found their footing in the league, do you think if they continue to play like this they might be able to make it to the playoffs? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Dhruv Shastry

720Articles

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Edited by:

Ruth John