LOS ANGELES — Despite Anthony Davis leaving the game early with an eye injury, the Lakers’ home winning streak on Sunday, picking up a 123-103 win over the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena.
With Davis absent for the final 17-plus minutes, LeBron James dialed up his intensity in the latter stages of the third quarter and early in the fourth, helping the Lakers turn a five-point deficit late in the third (77-72) into a double-digit (103-89) early in the fourth.
James finished with 19 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds for his second consecutive triple-double and third of the season.
His final assist to Austin Reaves (27 points, six assists) for a 3-pointer put the Lakers up 120-100 with 1:39 left in the game.
The Lakers (6-4) have won their first five games at Crypto.com Arena.
D’Angelo Russell (15 points) and Jaxson Hayes (12 points, six rebounds) combined for 27 of the Lakers’ 40 bench points.
Davis (22 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in 26 minutes) was ruled out early in the fourth because of a left eye injury he suffered while blocking Raptors center Jakob Poeltl midway through the third.
Poeltl hit Davis in the eye while Davis was blocking his dunk.
Davis immediately fell to the floor and was writing in pain before team doctors checked on him. He immediately went to the locker room and didn’t return to the Lakers bench for the remainder of the game.
The All-Star big man suffered a corneal abrasion to his left eye last season on March 16.
The Lakers, who’ve generally struggled without Davis on the court, raised their defensive intensity and focus in the fourth.
After giving up 12 offensive rebounds and 15 fastbreak points in the first three quarters, the Lakers didn’t allow any of either in the final 12 minutes.
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They also took advantage of the Raptors’ giveaways, turning 18 Toronto turnovers into 20 points.
The Raptors were led by RJ Barrett’s 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Chris Boucher had 18 points off the bench for Toronto.
The Lakers’ three-game homestand will wrap up against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.