Lakers’ Talen Horton-Tucker plays big off bench in win over Wizards

The go from Malik Monk reached Talen Horton-Tucker close to the three-point line, the Lakers guard catching the ball as he eyed former Lakers teammate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Horton-Tucker took one dribble, did a 360-degree spin round Caldwell-Pope, leaving him on the free-throw line.

Horton-Tucker then encountered one other former Lakers teammate, Kyle Kuzma, making an attempt to forestall him from scoring. But with one huge leap, Horton-Tucker jumped over Kuzma and threw down a one-handed dunk within the fourth quarter.

Horton-Tucker paused for a second to pose, relishing the second with the gang at Crypto.com Enviornment that was now in a frenzy.

It was one of many many Horton-Tucker highlights through the Lakers’ 122-109 win over the Wizards.

“That’s simply how I play,” Horton-Tucker mentioned. “Me being younger, I do know I nonetheless acquired rather a lot to study. However I really feel like I can do some issues. Simply each time I get the chance to do this it’s all the time nice. And it’s Kuz and KCP. They acquired me rather a lot once I was a rookie. It felt good to get them within the recreation.”

Horton-Tucker adopted up that dunk with one other one which put the Lakers forward by 10 factors once more.

Horton-Tucker additionally dunked over Washington’s 7-3 heart Kristaps Porzingis within the first half, sparking one other outburst from the gang.

Nevertheless it was the mess around Caldwell-Pope and the dunk over Kuzma that was probably the most thrilling of the evening.

“That play was superior. That play introduced the home down,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel mentioned. “However I believed the entire recreation that Talen was actually spectacular. I believe guys wish to play via damage on a regular basis, and generally it’s smarter to simply let the scenario, the ankle, heal up a pair additional days, like he did when he didn’t play in Houston.

“I believed he benefited tonight from being more healthy and taking part in with quite a lot of confidence attacking the basket, making performs, defending. Considered one of his greatest video games for us this yr, however that play was actually superior.”

Horton-Tucker was listed as questionable for the Wizards recreation due to a sprained left ankle.

But he performed half-hour off the bench and had an enormous function for the Lakers towards the Wizards.

He had 15 factors on seven-for-16 capturing, 5 rebounds and three assists.

“My ankle, I had a Grade 2 sprain. I’m nonetheless coping with it. It’s nonetheless painful,” he mentioned. “I’m simply making an attempt to play via it. It’s the top of the season so we acquired to get some wins. So, anyway I may also help I really feel like I should be on the market. So, I’m making an attempt to play via it. It nonetheless hurts, however I’m simply making an attempt to push.”