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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.
The Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning steak to six games with another win on the road — this time a 116-106 win against the Detroit Pistons at the Little Caesars Arena on Sunday.
Blake Griffin made his return for the Pistons on Sunday after missing the last 35 games with a knee injury he underwent surgery for in January. How did he recover from knee surgery in a little less than two months? A little video game magic, I guess.
Griffin looked fine offensively in his first game since December, but he looked a step slow defensively, and the Lakers took advantage of that. Anthony Davis out-rebounded Griffin 23-4 in their matchup. Yes, you read that correctly: Davis grabbed 23 rebounds, three rebounds shy of his career-high. Davis also scored 17 points, albeit on an inefficient 7-17 shooting from the field.
LeBron James was also a monster on offense, tallying 35 points and 8 assists to go along with his 8 rebounds — which would have been a team-high if Davis didn’t grab a ridiculous 23 rebounds. Dwight Howard also grabbed 8 rebounds.
However, as impressive both James and Davis were, it was the Lakers’ sharpshooters that were the difference on Sunday. Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each made five 3-pointers in a combined 15 attempts. Green and Caldwell-Pope have been hot this season, but never at the same time. Additionally, Caldwell-Pope’s five 3-pointers are a season-high.
With a win on Sunday, the Lakers are 55-14. They’ll see their stiffest competition of the road trip on Tuesday, when they take on the defending-champion Toronto Raptors.
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