Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell puts up a shot over Immanuel Quickley of the Toronto Raptors during the first half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett, left, shoots as Lakers forward Anthony Davis defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers forward LeBron James shoots around Toronto Raptors forward Kelly Olynyk during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick, right, shoots as Lakers guard Austin Reaves defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers star LeBron James drives baseline against Kelly Olynyk of the Toronto Raptors during the first half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors forward Kelly Olynyk (41) fouls Lakers forward LeBron James (23) as forward Anthony Davis watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura dunks against the Toronto Raptors during the first half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors forward Kelly Olynyk, left, knocks the ball away from Lakers guard Austin Reaves as Raptors forward Bruce Brown watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors forward Mouhamadou Gueye, left, steals the ball from Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick (1) drives as Lakers forward Taurean Prince (12) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers star LeBron James puts up a shot over RJ Barrett of the Toronto Raptors during the first half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors forward Mouhamadou Gueye (16) dunks next to Lakers forward Taurean Prince (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett (9) shoots as Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots as Toronto Raptors forward Bruce Brown (11) watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors forward Garrett Temple (17) drives as Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers star LeBron James drives to the net against Jordan Nwora of the Toronto Raptors during the first half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James walks the court during a pause in play against the Toronto Raptors during the first half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett, left, is fouled by Lakers forward Anthony Davis during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes dunks against the Toronto Raptors during the second half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
RJ Barrett of the Toronto Raptors drives to the net in front of Lakers guard Max Christie during the second half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) tries to get past Toronto Raptors forward Kelly Olynyk (41) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves walks the court against the Toronto Raptors during the first half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors guard Javon Freeman-Liberty (0) drives to the basket as Lakers forward Taurean Prince (12) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers forward LeBron James shoots in traffic during the second half of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Gradey Dick of the Toronto Raptors drives to the net past Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, during the first half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell reacts after scoring against the Toronto Raptors during the second half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Garrett Temple of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket as Lakers guard Max Christie defends during the second half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James drives past Toronto Raptors forward Bruce Brown (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lakers star LeBron James reacts against the Toronto Raptors during the second half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Mouhamadou Gueye of the Toronto Raptors drives to the net as Lakers guard Maxwell Lewis defends during the second half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) and Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett (9) vie for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
RJ Barrett of the Toronto Raptors drives to the net past Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, left, during the first half on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James warms up ahead of their game against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night in Toronto. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
By IAN HARRISON The Associated Press
TORONTO — The Lakers did what good teams are supposed to do when they face struggling ones – take care of business as efficiently as possible.
LeBron James scored 23 points, Anthony Davis had 21 points and 12 rebounds and the Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors, 128-111, on Tuesday night for their seventh win in eight games.
D’Angelo Russell shot 7 for 14 from 3-point range and scored 25 points, Rui Hachimura had 14 and Max Christie 12 as the Lakers handed slumping Toronto a 14th consecutive loss.
The NBA’s career scoring leader, James shot 10 for 12 and had nine assists.
James came in having matched his career high with nine 3-pointers in Sunday’s win at Brooklyn. The 20-time All-Star took just one shot from distance against the Raptors, connecting with 5:22 left in the third quarter.
Davis sat out the entire fourth quarter, while James checked out with 9:22 remaining in the final period after the Lakers extended their lead to 27 at 109-82. The Lakers visit the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.
James said he appreciated the chance to get an early start on his postgame routine.
“It absolutely helps,” he said. “Every minute counts. I was able to get back here and get going on the treatment and my prep, and start preparing my body, hopefully, for tomorrow night.”
Lakers coach Darvin Ham said he expected to have both James and Davis available against the Wizards, who beat Milwaukee on Tuesday night.
“We’ll see how they feel when they wake up in the morning but, in all likelihood, I’m sure they’ll play,” Ham said.
James has scored 20 or more points in five of his past six meetings with Toronto.
“He’s just so elite,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said. “It’s amazing to see a player at this age, after 20 years in the NBA, to play at this high a level. We never saw anything like it.”
RJ Barrett scored 28 points and Immanuel Quickley added 20 for the Raptors. Toronto lost a franchise-worst 17 consecutive games in 1997-98.
Toronto’s Gary Trent Jr. sat to rest, while Barrett and Quickley returned after missing time because of personal reasons and reconditioning. The pair combined for 17 points in the first, but the Lakers closed the quarter with an 18-4 spurt to lead 34-25 after one.
The Lakers held a 64-58 edge at the intermission. James and Davis each scored nine points in the third quarter as they stretched their lead to 100-79 after three.
“We challenged the guys,” Ham said of his halftime message. “They responded with a big defensive third quarter.”
The Raptors remained without five injured players, including starters Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl. Toronto two-way player Jontay Porter missed his fifth straight game as he remains under investigation for gambling allegations.
Raptors guard Bruce Brown left in the fourth because of a sore right knee.
Lakers forward Cam Reddish was not available for personal reasons, while guard Gabe Vincent sat on the opening night of the back-to-back games as he returns from left knee surgery.
UP NEXT
The Lakers play at the Washington Wizards on Wednesday at 4 p.m. PT.
