For a decade and change, Anthony Davis has offered reminders, one after another when it came to showing what could be accomplished through the power of his 7-foot, 6-inch wingspan. Thus, as the Milwaukee Bucks forced him to put those gifts to the test, the results were hardly surprising. Barely a possession removed from having shadowed Damian Lillard’s stepback and sending it away for a lead-saving swat, Davis offers immediate déjà vu, gluing his eyes to his fellow 2012 NBA Draft classmate during his sprint through a pair of staggered screens. Matching a flawlessly-timed rotation with his leap, Davis rejects Lillard’s heroic attempt once more, forcing a double-overtime standstill. Davis’ endless reach allowed the ironically-shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers to pass every test, from shots against future Hall of Famers to even a 19-point deficit with eight minutes remaining. The toughness was again on display as Davis survived a testy knee injury on the way to 52 minutes, the most by a single-game Laker since 2012. With a box score befitting of his versatile impact, Davis chalked up 34 points, 23 rebounds, two steals, four blocks, and three 3-pointers in the win on March 26, 2024. · Mar 26, 2024