Anthony Davis made a statement in the first half of the inaugural NBA-In Season Tournament Championship, notching a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds in just two quarters.
In the NBA’s inaugural in-season champion, the Lakers’ co-star played like he was back in the bubble against the Indiana Pacers. He was so good that Davis’ strong efforts in the first half garnered attention all over the social media world.
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- Anthony Davis first half stats: 17 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, 57% field goal
Davis has been a force defensively for the Lakers, holding Myles Turner to only four first-half points. Turner already has three fouls, forcing him to head to the bench early. With LeBron James encouraging Davis to be physical with Turner and attack him near the rim, the All-Star forward delivered.
- Anthony Davis contract: $40.5 million salary in 2023-’24, $43.219 million salary in 2024-’25
However, Davis wasn’t the only Lakers player who erupted in the first half against Indiana. Coming off the bench, Reaves delivered a season-best performance in the first two quarters alone.
Reaves has shown the world what he can do, leading all scorers with 22 points. While a lot of the attention has been on LeBron James and what he has been able to do this season despite being 38 years old, the duo of Reaves and Davis took the social media world by storm.
Coach Darvin Ham decided a few weeks back that Reaves should come off the bench and that adjustment is working well for the Lakers. Reaves has flourished in his new role, averaging 14.1 points per game this season.
Story by Brian McQuillen