Russell Gets 39 Points As Lakers End Skid With Win Over Nets
LOS ANGELES (AP) — D'Angelo Russell scored 39 points and hit two of his eight 3-pointers in the final minute, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.
While Kobe Bryant sat out with a sore right shoulder, the Lakers snapped their eight-game losing streak with a spectacular game from the 20-year-old Russell, who scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and went 14 for 21 from the field.
Brook Lopez had 23 points before fouling out with 2:43 left for the Nets, who fell to 2-3 on their nine-game trip with back-to-back losses at Staples Center.
Russell hit a 3-pointer with 53 seconds left and another with 30 seconds to play, capping a spectacular night for the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. His 39 points were the most by a rookie this season.
Los Angeles hung on for its first victory since Feb. 4 and just its fourth win in 26 games since Jan. 3.
Jordan Clarkson added 16 points, seven assists and seven rebounds as the Western Conference cellar-dwelling Lakers swept their season series with Brooklyn.
Thaddeus Young had 19 points and 15 rebounds for Brooklyn, while Bojan Bogdanovich scored 18 points in his fourth straight start since the Nets parted ways with Joe Johnson.
Young's dunk trimmed the Lakers' lead to 95-94 with 1:51 to play, but Clarkson made a layup before Russell drained his seventh 3-pointer. Russell hit another 3 on the next possession, backpedaling with confidence and setting off a wild celebration.
Russell's eventful rookie season is on the rise after three straight games with at least 22 points. With Clarkson and Marcelo Huertas serving as playmakers, Russell slid into a scoring role and repeatedly hurt the Nets from the perimeter.
The Lakers also had their best defensive game in a long while, holding the Nets to the fewest points by a Los Angeles opponent in seven games.
ALL EYES ON BRYANT
Bryant watched from the bench in a black suit on his bobblehead night at Staples Center, missing his second straight game. Lakers coach Byron Scott said Bryant hopes to play Wednesday night in Denver.
TIP-INS
Nets: Former Lakers guard Wayne Ellington started despite being questionable after getting evaluated for a possible concussion. Ellington took an inadvertent elbow to the head from DeAndre Jordan in a loss Monday night to the Clippers.
Lakers: Elgin Baylor set the Lakers rookie record with 55 points in a game in 1959. ... Lou Williams moderately strained his left hamstring late in the first half and didn't return. He also didn't travel to Denver after the game. Williams scored six points. ... Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban attended the game, sitting with Lakers executive Jeanie Buss. The Canadiens face the Ducks and Kings this week.
UP NEXT
Nets: At Nuggets on Friday night.
Lakers: At Nuggets on Wednesday night.
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