SIM SZN: Lakers bench mob takes over in Game 4

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.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis are really good at this basketball thing, and they showed that in the Lakers’ 140-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday.

James and Davis combined for 55 points, 12 rebounds, 14 assists and 3 steals. James led the way for the Lakers, scoring 31 points on 7-14 shooting from the field, including 3-5 shooting from behind the arc. He also went an impressive 14-16 from the charity stipe.

James’ 31 points were tied with Luka Doncic for game-high scoring honors. Ironically, Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis actually had a better combined stat line that James and Davis, but the Mavericks’ bench didn’t have it going. The same can’t be said for the Lakers.

The Lakers’ bench outscored the Mavericks’ 59-34. Five players from the Lakers’ bench finished the game in double figures, including Dwight Howard, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Markieff Morris and Dion Waiters. Kuzma led all bench scorers with 15 points, which is also his postseason-high.

Right behind Kuzma was Dwight Howard, who came up one point shy of leading the Lakers’ bench in scoring. However, while Howard wasn’t able to surpass Kuzma, he did lead all players in rebounds with 17. No other player on the Lakers had more than 7.

On nights where James, Davis and the supporting cast are rolling, the Lakers are a really, really tough team to beat. The Lakers will try and close out the series in Los Angeles on Sunday.

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