LOS ANGELES -- LeBron James scored 25 points and Stanley Johnson scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Los Angeles Lakers scored a 101-95 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night.
Russell Westbrook added 15 points and the Lakers broke a three-game losing streak by rebounding after an ugly 37-point loss to the Denver Nuggets two days earlier.
Mike Conley had 20 points and Rudy Gobert had 19 points with a double and 16 rebounds for the Jazz.
Johnson, who was re-signed to another 10-day contract earlier in the day, scored six consecutive points in the fourth quarter. He tied the game for 83 with a 15-foot pull-up jumper, and he later gave the Lakers an 89-87 lead with a fine move around Rudy Gobert.
James suggested the smaller Lakers lineup attack Gobert and Basket. It worked.
"I'm just trying to put everyone in a position to be successful and was teaching the game and I knew how to be successful aggressively," James said. "People responded well to what I saw and Stanley had a great game."
Austin Reeves had a tip-in basket from his own lapse to put the Lakers to four, and Avery Bradley scored a key 3-pointer in the corner assisting Johnson for a 95–89 lead. Johnson made 7 of 9 shots and also made seven rebounds.
The Lakers got 44 points off their bench. None older than Johnson, who grew up in Anaheim, California, starred in Mater Dei and felt the love of Southern California.
"I love doing what I'm here to do," Johnson said. “I have come here to bring energy and influence the game in different ways. Today was the day I was able to do it within plan and get the deflection and be active. This resulted in positive plays. It looks great. We all put a lot into it. It's not just wake up and do it. ,
James also had seven rebounds and seven assists, after apologizing to the Lakers Nation after the loss to the Nuggets.
"Our effort and energy were not where they needed to be in the Denver game, the second half of the Memphis game, and the second game," James said. "We weren't playing to our abilities. As the leader of this team, I was taking responsibility and telling the nation."
With Anthony Davis still out, the Jazz had a notable size advantage with a 7-foot-1 Gobert on the frontcourt.
Gobert was playing his second game after missing five games as he tested positive for COVID-19. He did not attempt his first shot until the 10:51 mark of the second quarter and still had a double. The day before, Gobert had 18 points and 19 rebounds in Utah's 125-102 win over Denver.
Utah scored just 17 points in the fourth quarter and only got 36.9 percent off the field.
"I thought we had really tough shots," Jazz coach Quinn Snyder said. “I think some shots are worth making, but we made it as hard as needed to read better and move the ball faster and make some better shots. I think that showed.”
Posterized
Westbrook sank Gobert late in the second quarter. Then he had some words for Gobert. Westbrook was assessed for a technical glitch.
When told that some people don't think he's still in them, Westbrook laughed and said: "It's the people's problem. That's their problem."
Work your way
Frank Vogel said Davis, who is recovering from an MCL sprain of his left knee, was examined by doctors on Monday and was cleared to practice fullcourt. There is no timetable yet for his return.
Russia with Courtside Assist
During the first quarter, Westbrook grabbed a mop and helped clean up a wet spot on the courtside floor after a fan spilled a drink. He smiled and did the same.
"I thought I could do anything," Westbrook said. "I don't see why not."
Tip-ins
Jazz: g Jared Butler (Health and Safety Protocols) and C Hasan Whiteside (Health and Safety Protocols) were out ... g / f Eliza Hughes (return to competition resumption) were suspicious ... players wore "now justice" It's time to make it a reality for all" T-shirt during the warmup on Martin Luther King Day.
Lakers: F Carmelo Anthony (lower back stiffness) is out. It is day to day. Frank Vogel expects to return on Wednesday... Kendrick Nunn (right knee hamstring injury) hastened his recovery, but has to back off... Antonio Brown, Dwayne Wade (minority owner of Jazz) ) and Sabrina Ionescu were some of the notable in the game. Brown sat on the edge of the court and was photographed with fans at halftime.
Next
Jazz: Hosts Houston on Wednesday Nights.
Lakers: Host Indiana on Wednesday night.