The LA Lakers returned to winning ways with a victory over the lowly Washington Wizards.
A game at home to the Washington Wizards was the perfect way for the LA Lakers to return to winning habits.
The win also saw Dorian Finney-Smith make his return after missing time for personal reasons, the birth of his baby boy.
Finney-Smith has impressed Lakers fans since the trade to acquire him from the Brooklyn Nets, amid confidence there is a lot more to come.
Earlier this month LA Lakers star Anthony Davis praised Dorian Finney-Smith as a defensive monster, which was a big part of the reason the team traded for him.
Finney-Smith enjoyed his best shooting night as a Laker against the Wizards, a team many players end up posting their best stats against.
He scored 16 points during his 22 minutes on court, but once again it was his defensive work that brought praise.
Lakers legend James Worthy first addressed his shooting, commenting: “I thought he didn’t have any fear, he wasn’t hesitating knocking down the three.”
He added: “Defensively he’s really a joy to watch, he kind of reminds me of Vanderbilt a little bit, but not quite, but he does have that tenacious aggressiveness and physicality that you need at that position.”
Jarred Vanderbilt has missed the entire season through injury, which has hampered the Lakers from a defensive perspective so far.
The good news is Vanderbilt is making steps towards his return, spending time in the G League, and the Lakers hope to see him shortly.
Shams Charania reports Vanderbilt has now been medically cleared and could make his comeback this weekend.
Finney-Smith has had a solid start as a Laker, amid the complaints from fans he has not been playing enough.
But he admitted pre-game that he has been dealing with an ankle injury that has placed him on a minutes restriction up to now.
“The ankle’s been good, it’s been getting better”, he admitted pre-game, while discussing his adjustment to playing as a Laker.
“My body’s starting to feel well, coach wants to play me more, that’s a good thing when the coach wants to play you more minutes right.”
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