The Los Angeles Lakers continue to try and tread water while LeBron James recovers from an injury.
While Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony shoulder the load for the Lakers, they desperately have needed someone else to step up.
Enter Malik Monk, who on Wednesday night in the 120-117 overtime win for the Lakers over the Miami Heat, stepped up and showed everyone he can be that kind of player.
Monk had 27 points, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter and five in the overtime period, as he really was the difference maker in the game for the Lakers.
MALIK MONK.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 11, 2021
He’s got 27 🔥
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/u2CTCZdHsi
Malik Monk from DEEEEEP.@Lakers 102@MiamiHEAT 106
— NBA (@NBA) November 11, 2021
4 minutes left on ESPN pic.twitter.com/yhBj3Wp7gD
MALIK MONK WITH THE HALF-COURT BUZZER BEATER 🚨 pic.twitter.com/NQ7n7Wi5WH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 9, 2021
25 for MONK
— FADE (@FadeAwayLeBron) November 11, 2021
Give Malik Monk the ball and get out of his way #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/io3rLNDyu4
Before Wednesday night, the most Mono had scored this season for the Lakers was 17 points, which came last month against the San Antonio Spurs.
With LeBron continuing to recover from his abdominal injury, the Lakers are continuing to figure it out.
Discovering that they had another possible play-making scorer in Monk is a really good thing moving forward, especially since Monk is only 23 years old and the Lakers discovered something that the Charlotte Hornets couldn’t do in four years.
Whatever it was, who knows. But the Lakers are reaping the benefits of it and should continue to do so for the rest of the season.