LOS ANGELES — Calling the first half of Friday night’s game between the Lakers and Jazz ugly would be generous. It was so sloppy that at one point in the second quarter the Lakers were shooting just 31 percent from the floor — and they were in the lead.
In the second half, LeBron James changed that.
He started to assert his will on the game, was more aggressive, got to the rim, and shot 8-of-13 in the half. The Lakers started Anthony Davis at center in the second half (to help pull Rudy Gobert out of the paint) and AD and LeBron formed a pick-and-roll combo the Jazz had fwq answers for. It all worked, the Lakers pulled away for a 95-86 win.
LeBron finished with 32 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds.
Davis finished with 21 points and showed some real chemistry with LeBron.
It’s a win against a quality opponent in their home opener, something the Lakers could use after opening night.