LOS ANGELES — It’s been greater than a month because it grew to become evident that Gabe Vincent was beginning to spherical into kind offensively throughout his second season with the Lakers.
And the sixth-year guard has sustained that offensive rhythm, offering the Lakers with some much-needed stability off the bench.
Since having his first double-digit scoring recreation as a Laker of their Dec. 1 street win towards the Utah Jazz, Vincent has averaged 6.9 factors on 44.7% taking pictures, together with a 39.3% mark from 3-point vary, in his final 16 video games, after averaging simply 2.8 factors on 31.3% taking pictures (20.9% from deep) in his first 19 video games.
Together with his 10 factors on 4-of-8 taking pictures to go together with three assists, two steals and a pair of blocked pictures in Friday’s house win over the Brooklyn Nets, Vincent had consecutive double-digit scoring video games for the primary time since signing with the Lakers as a free agent in July 2023.
Vincent scored a season-high 14 factors on 6-of-9 taking pictures to go together with 4 assists in Wednesday night time’s victory win over the Miami Warmth, Vincent’s former workforce.
“My position … is simply win video games, assist us win video games,” Vincent stated. “Some nights it is perhaps purely defensive, some nights I is perhaps on the ball some extra, some nights I is perhaps recognizing up. However regardless of the activity is, I’m on the market to assist this ballclub win video games.”
Vincent performed simply 11 regular-season video games final season after coping with left knee illnesses that required surgical procedure, returning in late March and taking part in in six of the Lakers’ last eight video games earlier than the postseason.
It was clear that he was nonetheless discovering his manner offensively to start out this season, however nonetheless discovered methods to contribute as a point-of-attack defender who might additionally guard larger gamers.
However his presence on each ends of the ground have been felt after a gradual offensive begin.
“Grateful to be wholesome, grateful to be on the courtroom,” Vincent stated. “Simply taking one recreation at a time.”
RUSSELL’S IMPACT
As Lakers coach JJ Redick put it, Austin Reaves has performed at an “All-Star stage” over the previous few weeks.
Reaves, who scored a career-high 38 factors towards the Nets, has averaged 22.2 factors (44.7% taking pictures, 40.6% from 3-point vary), 8.9 assists and 5.3 rebounds in his final 10 video games.
However when requested the place he felt like he’s made the largest strides this season, Reaves credited a buddy and former teammate who was an opponent on Friday: D’Angelo Russell.
“There’s so many ups and downs on this league,” Reaves stated. “The scrutiny is excessive being a Laker. So the extra you possibly can simply keep related to the group and related with each other is crucial factor for me. To be sincere, like I spoke [Friday] morning about D-Lo actually helped me with that when he acquired right here with him being via that, being drafted right here, being a younger participant. He’s seen every little thing that I had been via, I used to be going via.
“So when he acquired right here, he actually taught me find out how to you, not that the noise was affecting me, however to actually simply push that apart and fear in regards to the betterment of the workforce, how I can proceed to develop and be higher. I really feel like that’s the principle factor is simply actually persevering with to develop as a pacesetter.”
LAKERS AT CLIPPERS
When: Sunday, 6 p.m.
The place: Intuit Dome
TV/radio: Spectrum SportsNet, FanDuel Sports activities Community SoCal, NBA TV/710 AM, 570 AM
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