NBA ROUNDUP: Anthony Davis carries Lakers to easy victory with 55-point double-double

Anthony Davis dazzled so much that he heard fans chant ‘MVP!’ And that came while he was playing on the road.

Davis scored 55 points on 22-of-30 sizzling shooting and added 17 rebounds, leading the Los Angeles Lakers over the Washington Wizards 130-119 on Sunday night.

After scoring 44 points against Milwaukee in his previous game, Davis came close to his career-high 59 against Detroit in 2016. He is averaging 35.3 points in his last nine games.

Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Washington Wizards

“After a big win in Milwaukee, I can’t be complacent, I can’t be comfortable,” Davis said.

Davis was 2-for-3 on 3-pointers and made all nine of his free kicks. He scored 31 points in the second half.

LeBron James scored 29 points as the Lakers won their fourth straight road game. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games as they try to get off a 2-10 start.

“Our team is focused right now,” Davis said. ‘Very focused on both sides of the ball. Overall, we’re just trying to catch up.

Washington lost leading scorer and three-time All-Star Bradley Beal to a strained hamstring with 8:31 left in the first quarter. Beal sat on the bench after an early substitution, spoke to a coach, then went to the locker room. He did not return and is up to date.

Los Angeles led by 21 points in the first half. It was 85-56 early in the third quarter before the Wizards rallied to within nine points in the fourth.

The 6-foot-10 Davis provided a rare match in wingspan for 7-3 Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis. Both have a wingspan of 7 feet 6 inches.

Davis – #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers – drives to the hoop against the Washington Wizards

But Davis’ mobility and scoring from all levels on the court helped him control the matchup on Sunday. Porzingis shot 11 of 25 for 27 points.

“When you’re talking about people in the MVP race or category, (Davis) should be there for sure,” Lakers point guard Patrick Beverley said.

The Wizards were 5-for-25 from behind the 3-point line in the first half. Three of those five marks came from backup guard Corey Kispert, who finished with 16 points.

Former Laker Kyle Kuzma added 26 points for Washington before fouling out.

The Lakers travel to face Cleveland next. James, an Akron, Ohio native and former Cleveland star, said he will have a lot of friends and family at the game. But he’s more focused on the Lakers’ revival.

“We never knocked over the glass when things weren’t going well,” James said. ‘We keep working. She continued to improve. I understood that we are a new team that is being formed. New coaching staff, new system. We had to find out a few things. We have not done anything. We want to keep working.’

Davis and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate after a 130-119 victory

PELICANS 121, NUGGETS 106

Jose Alvarado highlighted a career-high crowd-popping 38-point performance with a career-high eight 3-pointers as the New Orleans Pelicans won their fourth straight game by beating the Denver Nuggets 121-106 on Sunday.

A high-energy fan favorite whose production has far exceeded expectations since going undrafted by Georgia Tech in 2021, Alvarado came off the bench with the Pelicans trailing by 14 in the first quarter and immediately scored eight points during a 11-1 New Orleans Race.

And that was just the opening of a performance in which fans serenaded him with chants in the style of a football crowd that replaced ‘Ole’ with ‘José’.

Zion Williamson scored 25 points for the Pelicans. Jonas Valanciunas added 13 points despite being limited to less than 14 minutes by foul trouble. Willy Hernangómez, who played almost 20 minutes in Valanciunas’ place, responded with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Nikola Jokic had 32 points and 16 rebounds for the Nuggets, who have lost two in a row after four straight wins.

New Orleans Pelicans guard José Alvarado (15) celebrates a three-pointer against the Nuggets

SOLES 133, SPURS 95

Deandre Ayton had 25 points and 10 rebounds as Phoenix overwhelmed San Antonio, handing the Spurs their 11th straight loss.

San Antonio fell behind by 30 points in the second quarter and is now two losses shy of the franchise’s longest skid in 1989.

Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges each scored 20 points as Phoenix won for the seventh time in eight games.

Keldon Johnson has 27 points for the Spurs, who haven’t won since Nov. 11.

Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs

GRIZZLIES 122, PISTONS 112

Ja Morant scored 21 of his 33 points in the third quarter in Memphis’ win over Detroit.

Morant added 10 assists to help Memphis win for the fourth time in five games. Dillon Brooks and Jaren Jackson Jr. each scored 22 points and Brandon Clarke had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Saddiq Bey led Detroit with 20 points and Bojan Bogdanovic had 18.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) celebrates a basket against the Detroit Pistons.

KINGS 110, BULLS 101

Malik Monk scored 20 points off the bench and Sacramento topped Zach LaVine’s 41 points to beat Chicago.

Domantas Sabonis had 11 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists for the Kings.

Harrison Barnes had 17 points, Kevin Huerter added 12 and rookie Keegan Murray finished with 11. The Kings’ starting five scored in double figures.

Nikola Vucevic had 12 points and Patrick Williams finished with 10 for Chicago.

Sacramento Kings Malik Monk shoots a three-point basket as Indiana Pacers Aaron Nesmith

KNICKS 92, KNIGHTS 81

Jalen Brunson scored 23 points and New York snapped a five-game losing streak at home with a win over Cleveland.

The Knicks never trailed in the contest as they held an opponent under 100 points for the first time this season.

Julius Randle scored 18 points and RJ Barrett added 15 as New York held the Cavaliers to a season-low point total and 34.9% field goal percentage.

Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 23 points and Darius Garland had 17.

Jalen Brunson #11 prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Cavaliers

CELTICS 103, NETWORKS 92

Jaylen Brown had 34 points and 10 rebounds, Jayson Tatum added 29 points and 11 rebounds and Boston snapped Brooklyn’s four-game winning streak on a night Roger Federer was present.

Kevin Durant scored 31 points for the Nets, but committed eight turnovers. Kyrie Irving added 18 points and eight rebounds, but shot just 7 of 21 from the field.

The Celtics were without Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart due to a bruised left hip.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks the ball as Celtics guard Derrick White (9) and Brooklyn Nets forward TJ Warren (1) look on

TRAIL BLAZERS 116, PACERS 100

Jerami Grant scored 28 points in Portland’s win over Indiana.

Blazers star Damian Lillard scored 21 points and dished out six assists in his first game since returning from a calf strain suffered on Nov. 19. Anfernee Simons had 22 points and six assists on the night, while Jusuf Nurkic had 19 points and six rebounds.

Myles Turner led the Pacers with 24 points and nine rebounds. Buddy Hield had 22 points as the Pacers were without starting point guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers.