Anthony Davis is key to the Lakers’ NBA title hopes after a dominant performance in Game 1 | News, results, highlights, stats and gossip

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 22: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: You expressly acknowledge and agree that by downloading and/or using this Image, you are consenting to the terms of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo: Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

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Much was made of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 110-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night about the historic moment when LeBron and Bronny James shared the court; this was the first time father and son had achieved this feat in the club’s 78-year history. NBA.

Hidden in this good moment was the performance of Anthony Davis, who showed complete dominance to help Lake Show overtake the Western Conference runners-up from a year ago.

Davis scored 36 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and added four assists in 38 minutes.

After the game, LeBron raved about his teammate to reporters.

“He is our main reference point offensively and defensively. We need to make sure we keep him involved. The coaching staff and JJ (Redick, head coach) do a great job of always putting him in positions where he’s the receiver of the offense, and once the AD does that, it’s our job as ball handlers to continue to feed them and find them, and AD did what AD does.

Redick also spoke highly of his talented big man.

“AD was phenomenal today. He attacked the match the right way. He was patient.”

Spectrum SportsNet @SpektrumSN

“AD was phenomenal today. He attacked the match the right way. He was patient.”
JJ talked about AD’s dominant performance (36 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks) early in the season. pic.twitter.com/jy1jHPzRdn

The Lakers will need more of the same from Davis if they hope to win a record 18th NBA title this season.

The Western Conference is full of talented teams, most of which can run and make it to the NBA Finals. We saw it a season ago with the Timberwolves, and even the year before that, when the Lakers came out of seventh place and faced Denver for the Western crown.

The Lakers’ lineup is built around Davis and James to such an extent that if they are not at their best, it will be extremely difficult for the team to win consistently. As James is in his 22nd season and isn’t getting any younger, the big man will continue to be an organizational nucleus on the court.

He’s off to a great start, setting the tone for the rest of the season and establishing himself as the face of the brand for the next nine months.

He believes the team is heading in the right direction, and if the opener was any indication, the team should be competing for the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the spring.