On Wednesday, a Lakers team that was shorthanded gave one of the Eastern Conference’s elite teams everything they could handle and earned their biggest win of the season. L.A. overcame the Miami Heat 120-117 in overtime to improve to 7-5 despite missing nearly half of their squad and having only 9 eligible players from the full-time roster.
Russell Westbrook had a triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists but with 8 turnovers in one of his greatest performances of the season. He was extremely clutch down the line, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter, including two massive midrange shots to put the Lakers up 112-110 with less than a minute to go, but took an ill-advised three to win the game and missed it.
While facing up against two extremely well-regarded interior defenders in Bam Adebayo and P.J. Tucker, Anthony Davis had a very quiet game with only 24 points and 13 rebounds, but he offered the Lakers enough on the defensive end to help the team get by while so bruised up.
Monk, in particular, was outstanding, making clutch shot after clutch shot en route to a 10-13 field goal percentage and a 4-7 three-point percentage, with 5 points in OT on 2/2 shooting. Monk and Bradley saved the day as he was also 5 of 8 from downtown and gave a boost to the Lakers in the first half to continue the momentum.
Still not sure how @AhmadMonk got this to fall. pic.twitter.com/Rht86A9fXn
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 11, 2021
Tyler Herro, a fellow bench sparkplug who finished with an outstanding 27 points and caused the Lakers fits all night, was outclassed by him. Jimmy Butler left the game in the first half with a twisted ankle after just playing 12 minutes, and the Heat missed many free throws down the line going 1 o 6 in overtime.
Give it up for Lik & Brodie 🙌 #LakersWin pic.twitter.com/2uzEAgJwVT
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 11, 2021
