Fansided

Anthony Davis erupts for career-high 32 points vs Los Angeles Lakers

By Jason Marcum

Nov 8, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis (23) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) during the second quarter of a game at New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis (23) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) during the second quarter of a game at New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 8, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis (23) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) during the second quarter of a game at New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis (23) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol (16) during the second quarter of a game at New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Coming into Friday night’s NBA action, New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis was already starting to look like a breakout player of the year candidate, as well as an MVP contender with his improved play in just his second year in the league.

The former Kentucky Wildcats great ranked among league leaders with a 21.2 points-per-game scoring average while collecting 11.4 rebounds and four blocks per contest. He’s also averaging 2.2 steals per game.

But Friday night vs the Los Angeles Lakers, he had the best game of his young career, going for a career-high 32 points on 12/18 shooting while grabbing 12 boards. He also added 3 assists and 6 blocks to help lead the Pelicans to a 96-85 win over the Lakers, and New Orleans is now 3-3 on the year and looks like a darkhorse playoff contender in the Western Conference.

Davis showed flashes of greatness during his rookie season, but various injuries and inconsistent minutes prevented him from having the kind of out-the-gate impact that was expected of him. But Davis has shown this year through 6 games that he is the real deal, and he’ll continue to do such.

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