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Editor’s note: As we wait for real NBA basketball to return, we’re going to simulate the rest of the games that the Los Angeles Lakers have on their schedule on NBA 2K20.
Following their blowout win over the Jazz in Utah on Monday, the Lakers were able to beat the Jazz at home, too — this time by a margin of 116-92. With a win on Wednesday, the Lakers got the regular season series sweep over the Jazz.
The Jazz looked strong to start the game, swatting away every shot the Lakers took at the rim. In the first quarter alone, Rudy Gobert had four blocks. He finished the game with eight.
JaVale McGee was on the receiving end of most of Gobert’s blocks and, as a result, he only played 12 minutes. Luckily, the Lakers have another starting caliber center they can lean on in Dwight Howard. Frank Vogel made the adjustment to put Howard on Gobert in the second half, and the results were fruitful.
Howard finished the game a team-high +20 in the box score.
Still, even with Howard’s strong defense on Gobert, the Jazz were getting whatever the wanted in the paint due to the quickness of their guards. Jordan Clarkson and Emmanuel Mudiay scored 16 points each, with more than half of them coming in the paint. Additionally, no one on the Lakers had more than one block.
The Lakers were just as fast on the other end, though, and a big reason for that was Vogel’s decision to play Anthony Davis at center. With Davis at center, the Lakers were able to get up and down the floor quickly, and the Jazz couldn’t keep up.
The Lakers will have the next two days off before embarking on a six-game road trip, starting in Charlotte on Saturday. We’ll be back with you then.
For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow this author on Twitter at @RadRivas.