For the better part of three quarters of this game, it felt like the typical “first home game after a long road trip” performance from the Lakers. They lacked energy, focus and their superstar as Luka Dončić left the game late in the first half due to injury.
Then, everything flipped in the third quarter as the Lakers not only got back into the game but took control. A chaotic ending made things hairy at the end but the result was as unexpected a win as the Lakers have had in some time.
While Austin Reaves is going to take home lots of plaudits in this one, a lot of guys had their hands all over this victory.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
37 minutes, 17 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 block, 8 turnovers, 1 foul, 7-17 FG, 0-3 3PT, 3-3 FT, -5
This was a very rough showing from LeBron. He felt out of rhythm throughout and while he had a couple of highlight reel dunks, he also had some really frustrating turnovers, including one that nearly sparked a miracle comeback late.
23 minutes, 14 points, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 5-7 FG, 0-2 3PT, 4-5 FT, -1
LaRavia didn’t do much wrong in this. The main reason he didn’t play more was because head coach JJ Redick rode a lineup predominantly of bench players in the fourth quarter.
20 minutes, 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 fouls, 4-5 FG, 2-2 FT, -13
You can look at Ayton’s game in two ways. He was either a player who was fine in his minutes before Redick stuck with Maxi Kleber on a night he was incredible or he was a starting center who just got benched for the third-string center.
31 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 fouls, 2-5 FG, 2-3 3PT, 1-4 FT, -15
There was a lot of Marcus Smart in this one. In another game, he probably fouls out of the game. But the officials were certainly letting him play in this one, so he was up to his old Marcus Smart tricks.
Still, he missed some late free throws and also had a part in the crazy turnover late that nearly let the Sixers steal the game back.
16 minutes, 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 turnovers, 3-10 FG, 0-4 3PT, 4-4 FT, -10
We were well on track to a disappointing Luka game before he left with an injury. He was a pretty big part in the lethargic and lackluster first half from the Lakers in this one.
26 minutes, 4 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 2-3 FG, +23
Put this one up there with his outing in Utah earlier this season as wins Maxi Kleber had a huge hand in. The stats don’t tell the whole story in this one, but each one of his rebounds came on the offensive end and it felt like all four led to a bucket.
An enormous effort on a night when they needed him with Jaxson Hayes suspended.
35 minutes, 14 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 5-7 FG, 2-2 3PT, 2-2 FT, +16
Another solid night off the bench for Rui, who started in place of Luka in the second half. He had some really big baskets late in the third quarter as part of a run that really flipped the tide.
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23 minutes, 6 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, 3-7 FG, 0-3 3PT, +16
A truly chaotic Vando game, especially in the fourth quarter. He was a big part of the second half comeback, especially defensively. But if I never see another corner three from Vando, that’ll be too soon.
25 minutes, 35 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 turnovers, 12-17 FG, 5-8 3PT, 6-7 FT, +5
Saving the best for one of the last, it’s hard to describe just how good Reaves was in this one. He only returned to the court days ago after over a month and just had one of his best games of the season. He was everything the Lakers needed both with and without Luka, including a pair of huge 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter.
He had one shift, made multiple mistakes defensively and then didn’t play again. The only surprise of the day for Knecht is that he wasn’t traded.
I had some questions about the zone and how ineffective the team was defensively, but there’s only so much he can do on that end. I always appreciate when a coach rides the hot hands, which he certainly did in the second half. He also managed Reaves well to keep him under his minutes restriction while keeping him on the floor for the end of the game.
Thursday’s DNPs: Bronny James, Nick Smith Jr., Drew Timme
Thursday’s inactives: Jaxson Hayes, Adou Thiero
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
