In a thrilling conclusion that left fans on edge, the Los Angeles Lakers clinched a narrow 1-point victory against the Toronto Raptors. Anthony Davis stole the spotlight with explosive 41 points and 11 rebounds against the small Raptors lineup. LeBron James added a solid 22 points and 12 assists. The purple and gold showcased harmony as six players achieved double-digit scores.

The Raptors exhibited a more efficient rotation with seven players reaching double digits, accumulating a total of 129 points. However, the Lakers’ triumph was significant, given their recent challenges. In the wake of the win, Anthony Davis emphasized the importance of maintaining the same level of effort moving forward, providing a boost of optimism for the Lakers’ future performances.

Anthony Davis sets expectations for the Lakers’ rotation

After dropping 41 points in a close win against the Raptors, Anthony Davis declared that other players have to pitch in and it cannot be him and LeBron James that takes them through every time. As defenses turn their attention majorly to Anthony Davis and LeBron James, AD suggested that the Lakers can propel through timely and consistent efforts of all the other players on the roster. If not, it will make things harder for the superstar duo and, in turn, it might disrupt the team’s strategies and stretch down the game.

Right after the game, Anthony Davis connected with the Sportsnet post-game crew. Initially asserting the win as essential, he appreciated Cam Reddish, Austin Reaves, Christian Woods, and other members of the crew for a unified effort. In the same light, he asserted, “It’s going to be others,” when speaking of the pivotal element in the Lakers squad.

The Lakers now have an immediate opportunity for redemption. Their upcoming game pits them against the Phoenix Suns, who currently sit one spot above them. Following that, they face the Utah Jazz, one spot below them.

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The challenges will then toughen as they will clash with formidable teams in the West; the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Raptors coach is infuriated as free throws changed the game

The Lakers hit 54.3% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc. However, the Raptors outperformed them with better shooting, 56.4% overall and 48.6% from three-point range. Moreover, they also sank more shots than the Lakers. However, the difference in the free throw department became a significant talking point.

Following the loss, first-year head coach, Darko Rajakovic, unleashed a furious outage against the officiating. He made his point regarding the disparity in free throws. During the game, Anthony Davis went to the line more times than the entire Raptors team. Moreover, his 11 points in the fourth quarter came off the charity stripes.

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The game revealed a staggering 23 free throw gap between the two teams, as the Lakers made 36 trips to the line compared to the Raptors’ mere 13. The stark contrast in free throw opportunities fueled Rajakovic’s impassioned reaction and stirred discussions about the officiating controversy.