LOS ANGELES — After a series of minor changes, JJ Redick made his most significant adjustment in his last 5½ months of being the Lakers’ coach ahead of Friday’s home game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
And it paid off.
After swapping D’Angelo Russell out of the starting lineup for Cam Reddish after the Lakers’ 1-4 road trip, the Lakers beat the 76ers 116-106 at Crypto.com Arena to remain undefeated (4-0) at home and put them at 5-4 on the season.
“Across the board for our group, it was a group win,” Redick said. “We had a very professional approach to the game. We had a very professional approach to the game plan, to some attention to detail stuff … I was really just happy for the group to connect again, if that makes sense, where you can sometimes go out on the road and things don’t go your way.
“And it’s not that we’ve splintered, we haven’t done that at all. The group has been awesome, but sometimes you need to win. Sometimes you need to play well to feel that connection. And I thought the group had that.”
Anthony Davis, who was back in the Lakers’ lineup after missing Wednesday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies because of left plantar fasciitis, led the Lakers with 31 points on 11-of-20 shooting to go with nine rebounds and four blocked shots.
“We trying to manage, keep finding ways to keeping it loose,” Davis said of his foot. “But it felt good for the most part. Had some parts in the game where it was really bothering me, but I think the off days, the days in between games are the most crucial, where I get a chance to really get some treatment on it and get it feeling good for game day.”
LeBron James finished with 21 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds for his second triple-double and the 114th of his career to go with three blocked shots.
Austin Reaves had 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds, knocking down six of his 10 3-point attempts after shooting 28.9% (11 of 38) on 3-pointers during the trip.
Russell had a strong performance in his new role, scoring 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, (including a pair of 3-pointers), to go with three assists in 25 minutes.
“It’s no secret that our bench has been struggling to find ways to score,” James said. “And the best way to change that is to put a scorer on the bench. And DLo came in and gave us a big-time push off the bench.”
Russell’s scoring total tied Dalton Knecht’s 18 points in the blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 30 for the most points scored by a Laker off the bench this season.
“I just want to win,” Russell said. “I think however it happened, however the conversation, however the relationship, whatever it may be, try to be professional and be a part of winning. Simple as that.
“I left all that, all my baggage at the door this summer once we changed coaches and new staff came in. I was committed to whatever it takes. That’s what y’all see now.”
Reddish (three points, five rebounds, one steal and a blocked shot) provided the Lakers with the defensive impact they were looking for when they moved him into the starting lineup, primarily guarding Paul George, who struggled in his third game of the season.
George finished with nine points on 4-of-13 shooting to go with eight assists and four rebounds in 25 minutes.
“Cam took one shot in [28] minutes, but had a huge impact on the game defensively,” Redick said. “Paul George never got going at any point in the game. In the first half, I know we had three smash screen assists coming out of set plays. I think Cam had two of them. That’s sacrifice, that’s really just unselfishness.”
Jared McCain led the 76ers with 18 points off the bench. Philadelphia was without former MVP Joel Embiid (league suspension) and All-Star Tyrese Maxey (strained right hamstring).
The Lakers will return to Crypto.com Arena on Sunday to host the Toronto Raptors as part of their three-game homestand.