Lonnie Walker IV revels in breakout performance in LA Lakers win with 28 points: "My jump shot's too beautiful not to be hitting 3s"
Lonnie Walker IV was a big reason for the LA Lakers' win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, November 2. After five consecutive losses, the Lakers are finally back in the win column with back-to-back wins.
LeBron James struggled to hit a shot from beyond the arc against New Orleans and went 0-7. He still scored 20 points while having difficulty scoring the ball and grabbed 10 rebounds while dishing out eight assists. Luckily for Los Angeles, Lonnie Walker IV came up big for them, scoring 28 points.
Walker IV had five threes during the game while only attempting nine shots. With his impressive shooting, the Lakers were able to hold their own against a tough Pelicans team. After the game, the 6-foot-4 guard shared that he's starting to get comfortable attempting long-distance shots.
"Absolutely. After games, I've been staying in the gym getting as much shots as I can. My jump shot's too beautiful not to be hitting 3s. I'ma continue to shoot with confidence," Walker IV said when asked about this performance from beyond the arc.
When the athletic guard was asked how the Lakers were able to maintain their composure after a disappointing start to the season, he said:
"We're starting to get more and more comfortable as a team. Defensively, we're doing phenomenal and the offense is finally starting to transition."
The Lakers' match against the Pelicans was one of the most thrilling games of the season. Despite their struggles from three, it was Matt Ryan's game-tying 3-pointer that sent the game into overtime. From there, the team focused on beating the Pelicans and ultimately won with a score of 120-117.
This was also the third game where Russell Westbrook played the game as the Lakers' sixth man. This strategy looks like it could give Los Angeles more wins moving forward.
Lonnie Walker IV could be the Lakers' third option
Regardless of the struggles of the Lakers, they seem to have honed a new scoring threat in Lonnie Walker IV. The former shooting guard for the San Antonio Spurs has been one of the few bright spots for Los Angeles. Through seven games, he's averaging over 16.1 points, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals.
On paper, he's not really the best facilitator for the Lakers, and that's okay. The team has James and Westbrook in that area. Lonnie Walker IV has brought a different kind of energy to the team, he's been staying aggressive on offense and alert on defense. He's also been playing a lot, averaging 32.7 minutes this season.
Talent-wise, Westbrook is the true third option for the team, but he hasn't been a good fit for the starting five. Which is why moving him to the bench was the right move for Darvin Ham. Now, the Lakers have a more spaced-out offense to stop opposing teams from crowding the paint.
Los Angeles is hoping to continue their two-game win streak. However, their next matchup could be a tough one, as they'll take on the Utah Jazz, who have been on fire since the 77th NBA season started.