The Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets met Friday, November 3, at the Staples Center. Many considered the showdown between these teams as a revenge game for the likes of Brook Lopez and D'Angelo Russell. In June, the two switched places. The Lakers traded Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Nets, in exchange for Lopez and the 27th pick (used to select Kyle Kuzma) in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Friday's game ended with the Los Angeles Lakers taking a 124-112 victory. Leading the way for the Lakers was Brook Lopez, who had his best outing so far for the purple and gold franchise.

Lopez tallied a game-high 34 points as he shot 13-of-23 from the field which included six three-pointers. The 29-year-old veteran registered 10 rebounds, two assists, and three blocks as well.

For Lopez, his performance for the Lakers against the Brooklyn Nets was not about revenge, and it was nothing special. Lopez spoke about it following the game. "It honestly wasn’t about (revenge) at all. It was typical. Just another game for me," the California native said according to the Associated Press. It may not have been a revenge game for Lopez, but that is not how the majority of fans saw it.

Young guns stepping up

Brook Lopez received ample help in the Los Angeles Lakers' recent win. Rookie Kyle Kuzma, who started in place of the injured Larry Nance Jr., was the second-best scorer for the Lakers with 21 points.

Kuzma had a double-double too like Lopez as he grabbed 13 boards. Brandon Ingram had a double-double also with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

It was not just Lopez and his fellow starters who emerged in the home game. Three members of the Lakers' second unit stood out too. Jordan Clarkson added 19 points, while Julius Randle and Tyler Ennis chipped in 10 points apiece.

Nets' leaders

D'Angelo Russell had a good performance in his first time taking on the Los Angeles Lakers. Russell had 17 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. However, he was not the top-scorer for the Brooklyn Nets. That label belonged to Allen Crabbe who exploded for 25 points off the bench. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson followed Crabbe in scoring with his 21 points.

DeMarre Carroll (11 points) and Joe Harris (10 points) also finished in double-digits.

Records and schedules

The Los Angeles Lakers improved to 4-5 after defeating the Brooklyn Nets, who fell to 3-6. Up next for the Lakers is another home game on November 5. They have a chance to reach the .500 mark when they host the Memphis Grizzlies. Meanwhile, the Nets will play the second game of a five-game Western Conference road trip on November 6. The Nets have the opportunity to arrest a four-game losing streak when they visit the Phoenix Suns at the Talking Stick Resort Arena.