Lakers News: Los Angeles Announces First Five For Critical Raptors Match

Ahead of what should be an incredibly easy matchup against the lowly Toronto Raptors, the ascendant Los Angeles Lakers have announced their starting five, per their official X account:

The team will trot out head coach Darvin Ham's preferred starting unit of point guard D'Angelo Russell, shooting guard Austin Reaves, forwards LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, and center Anthony Davis.

James and Davis' availability was anything but guaranteed. The team's only two All-Stars were game-time decisions due to ankle and knee injuries, respectively.

Now, the dynamic duo will help LA hopefully match its season win total from 2022-23, 43, by besting a 23-51 Raptors club that has lost 13 games in a row during a particularly tanktastic stretch. James and Davis have really been turning it on of late when available, with the postseason in their sites.

James scored 40 points against another Eastern Conference non-contender (albeit one without its own first round draft pick this season), the Brooklyn Nets, on Sunday. In so doing, he joined Hall of Famer Michael Jordan as the only players aged 39 or older to submit multiple 40+ point games. James, who has been one of the league's most prolific fourth quarter scorers this year, scored 17 points in the final frame to close out the Nets, including four made triples.

James hit that 40-point mark on an insane 13-of-17 shooting from the field, including 9-of-10 shooting from long range. He also shot 5-of-6 from the foul line, pulled down seven rebounds and dished out five assists. Not be outdone, Davis scored 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field (1-of-3 from deep) and 5-of-6 shooting from the charity stripe, grabbed 14 boards and blocks three shots. Every LA starter against Brooklyn (the same five) scored 12 or more points. Rui Hachimura was the highest-scoring non-All-Star, with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and 10 rebounds.