The Los Angeles Lakers had themselves a block party against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday and became the ninth team to block 20 shots in a game in NBA history, as well as the first team to do so since 2001, when the Toronto Raptors had 20 rejections against the Golden State Warriors.
The Lakers have blocked 20 shots. According to @bball_ref, an NBA team has blocked 20 or more shots in a game eight times ever.
— Brett Dawson (@BDawsonWrites) January 6, 2020
Los Angeles was one shy of its franchise-record of 21 blocks, which they set in April, 1982 against the Denver Nuggets, according to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.
The Lakers have been among the best defensive teams in the league and a performance like this only proves how much they have committed to defense. Three players had five or more blocks, led by Anthony Davis' eight rejections.
JaVale McGee added six more blocks and Dwight Howard had five of his own coming off the bench. But it wasn't only the big men having a big night, as the 6-foot-2 Avery Bradley blocked another shot during his 12 minutes on the floor before departing in the first half with an ankle injury.
Article Continues Below“They are No. 1 in the league right now blocking shots,” said Pistons big man Christian Wood, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. “They showed that today, and they do a great job at it.”
McGee, who was interestingly drug-tested following his six-block outing, noted the rejections are not only good for the Lakers' morale, but also a self-esteem hit for those hoping to score at the rim — forcing them to look to score elsewhere.
“I feel like for the other team, it's a low esteem [feeling], you know what I'm saying? It depletes their whole energy,” McGee said. “It's just like, ‘Damn, we can't go to the rim. Let's start shooting contested threes instead.' … So it's definitely great.”
The Lakers have won five straight games and look to have fully rebounded from a four-game skid last month, one they're putting behind them one rejection at a time.