The Lakers defeated the Hornets 101-93 on Tuesday night and inched closer to the fourth seed Denver Nuggets. The LA-based team has an extremely tough 10 days ahead with games lined up against the Celtics, the Jazz, and the Mavericks. So it was important for them to chalk this W and keep the balance.
Interestingly, it took the Lakers just three players to score in double figures for the victory against the short-handed Hornets. Out of the limited titillating performances, it was Montrezl Harrell that surprised yet again.
When Lakers’ Montrezl Harrell nailed it with innovation
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It was when the Lakers were leading 66-64 in a close game that Trezz came up with an eye-pleasing conversion. Much credit to #4 Alex Caruso, who faked a signal towards Talen Horton-Tucker to distract the Hornets’ defenders. Just as the 27-YO guard passed the ball near the rim, it was an impressive Montrezl Harrell who caught the ball and converted a picturesque reverse alley-oop. That was complete justice done to a very decent assist by the Lakers veteran.
Trezz is an innovator 💡 pic.twitter.com/68e2PsKpKQ
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 14, 2021
The night that ended with the Lakers converting six back-to-back free throws was memorable for Kyle Kuzma. Kriss Kross stunned the Hornets with 24 points and four three-pointers. Montrezl did not enjoy a high-scoring game, but he remained 66.7% efficient from the field. Alex Caruso, as always, led the +/- chart with double-figure scoring and a +21 to his name.
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Alex Caruso had pulled the same stunt in the recent past
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In the last game against the Knicks that the Lakers eventually lost, Caruso had made a similar assist. It was again in the third quarter when the White Mamba placed an accurate half-court pass towards Talen Horton-Tucker. The latter responded to the assist with a carbon copy of what Trezz pulled today. That treatment had received huge applause from the commentators who were surprised by the youngster’s confidence to take such a difficult shot.
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All these moves prove how the Lakers are building great chemistry in the absence of their star duo. This will certainly benefit them once the duo is back, as the bench will now feel much more confident around one another.
Do you think Alex Caruso can continue such performances in the bigger games?