Anthony Davis-less Lakers pounded by NBA-best Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz manhandled defending NBA champions the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, cementing their spot at the NBA’s best.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Utah Jazz manhandled defending NBA champions the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday AEDT, improving on their league-leading record with a convincing 114-89 victory.

Donovan Mitchell, headed for his second straight All-Star Game, scored a modest 13 points in Utah, but added 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Watch Live coverage every week of the NBA Regular Season with ESPN on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >

All-Star French centre Rudy Gobert and Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points apiece as six Jazz players scored in double figures in the dominant performance against the injury-depleted Lakers.

“We’re playing consistent basketball right now,” Mitchell said after the Jazz notched their 22nd win in 24 games.

“That’s the biggest thing, to continue to play consistently for each other and do the little things. We got away from that in the playoffs and (now) we’re doing it every night.”

The Jazz are the best team in the NBA and right now and no one is remotely close

— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) February 25, 2021

The Jazz may not end up winning the title this year, but they've arrived and will be at the top of the Western Conference for a long time. And soon, the road to the NBA Finals will go through them.

— Jason Smith (@howaboutafresca) February 25, 2021

Oooooooh Weeeeeee! Lakers gettin they ass BEAT by the Jazz! 😞 #NBA

— David Alan Grier (@davidalangrier) February 25, 2021

The Western Conference-leading Jazz made 22 three-pointers to the Lakers’ eight, pulling away in the second quarter as they improved to 26-6.

Los Angeles, without injured star Anthony Davis and guard Dennis Schroder, fell to 22-11 with their fourth-consecutive defeat.

LeBron James scored 19 points and sat out the fourth quarter with the game out of hand.

Montrezl Harrell with 16 and Markieff Morris with 12 were the only other Lakers players to score in double figures.

Mike Conley of the Utah Jazz drives past Talen Horton-Tucker of the Los Angeles Lakers.

READ MORE: Simmons safe but LeBron fumes at ‘disrespect’

Lakers coach Frank Vogel was happy to call the Jazz the hottest team in the NBA “right now”, and James said the Lakers were confident of better things to come.

“It’s a tough stretch for us, but this won’t define what we will be for the rest of the season and for the long haul, that’s for sure,” James said

“They’re playing some really good ball, it’s a really good team.”

Lakers star Markieff Morris said: “We see the Jazz, we know they beat our arse tonight, but in the playoffs it’s a different story … You’ve got to fight when your back is against the wall.”

— with AFP