LOS ANGELES — Nic Claxton didn't just stop Anthony Davis from dominating the Nets as usual Friday night. He matched the Lakers' All-Star play-for-play in the Brooklyn win.
The young center scored 22 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the floor, grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, blocked several shots and was plus-8 in 32 minutes, 43 seconds.
Davis had 37 points and 18 rebounds for the Nets last season, but he had a more manageable 26 points, 12 boards and minus-12 points on Friday.
“I always carry that chip on my shoulder when I hoop. When I play against a top-five center in the league like AD, I was ready. And I play like that every night. That's my challenge,” Claxton said. “I think it will be under control in the fifth year.”
Win against the Lakers. AP
Lonnie Walker IV scored 15 points in just 13 minutes, 21 seconds on Friday against his former Lakers team. During the five weeks he was out due to injury, he lacked any offensive punch off the bench.
But after scoring 13 points in 19 minutes against Portland, Walker continues to rack up points despite his limited playing time. He is still under a one minute limit.
“Yeah, we needed Ronnie to come back. He was an important piece to the team,” Dennis Smith Jr. said of Walker. “He missed a lot of games. But it's great to have him back here. He's a flamethrower too, coming off the bench. We need him.”
Walker scored 15 points in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' Western Conference semifinal Game 4 last year. Now, he and Smith provide energy for the Nets' second unit.
“I thought our bench was really good.” [Friday]” coach Jacques Vaughn said. “Whether Dennis' energy on the defensive end of the floor was disruptive or not, Ronnie has proven he has the ability to come in and impact the game of basketball.
“Throughout the season, we missed both of their games for weeks on end. So in order for them to feel like they're playing together, they have to cover each other's plays. Practice time. We're trying to take advantage of the shootaround, everything, to try to speed up or get back some of the things that we missed in the first 41 games.”
Long Island of the G League defeated the Windy City on the strength of rookie two-way forward Jalen Wilson's 28 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Two-way guard Keon Johnson scored 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field.
