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Rajon Rondo made his season debut during the Los Angeles Lakers 123-115 win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. The four-time All-Star and three-time NBA assists leader helped provide a spark in the passing game for the Lakers who moved the ball effectively enough to dish out 39 assists as a team. The unselfish ball movement by Los Angeles led to 53.7% shooting from the field and 40% shooting from three on their way to the victory.
The 39 assists Los Angeles accounted for in Phoenix were the most by any Lakers team in the last 10 years. While on a restriction and logging only 14 minutes, Rondo accounted for seven of those dimes to go along with five points and six rebounds off the bench. LeBron James totaled 11 assists as well as 19 points and seven rebounds. Avery Bradley had five assists, Anthony Davis had four to go along with team-highs of 24 points and 12 rebounds, and five other Lakers had at least one.
Most dimes by the #LakeShow in a decade. @KingJames: 💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰@RajonRondo: 💵💵💵💵💵💵💵
Avery Bradley: 💲💲💲💲💲@AntDavis23: 💸💸💸💸@JaValeMcGee: 🤑🤑🤑@DGreen_14: 💰💰💰@ACFresh21: 💵💵💵@QCook323: 💲💲@DwightHoward: 💸 pic.twitter.com/xhBgq9lRBF— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 13, 2019
“We really committed to the extra pass,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel told NBA.com after the game. “I challenged our guys last game to truly commit to it. … That is the secret for us. If you truly commit to the extra pass offensively and playing for each other, we are going to be near unbeatable.”
The Lakers passing game led to 70 points in the paint against the Suns while also setting up timely shots from 3-point range. LeBron and Kyle Kuzma each hit clutch triples down the stretch while Danny Green paced L.A. from distance by knocking down 3-of-5 long-range field goals.
Despite an effective debut on Tuesday, however, Rondo will not play tonight at home against the Golden State Warriors so he can rest his sore right calf. Rajon’s next game is expected to be Friday at home against the Sacramento Kings. With the victory, the Lakers move to 8-2 on the young season as they welcome the 2-9 Warriors tonight.
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