The Los Angeles Lakers are back in action, and their performance against the Toronto Raptors was a statement! After a period of setbacks, the team showcased its potential with key players returning to the court. Coach JJ Redick now had more strategic options as the Lakers' schedule intensified.
The team welcomed back Luka Doncic (recovering from left groin soreness), center Deandre Ayton (overcoming left knee soreness), and backup center Jaxson Hayes (battling left hamstring tendinopathy) for Sunday's game at Crypto.com Arena. Only Austin Reaves (sidelined with a left calf strain) remained out.
What's more, this game was part of a back-to-back series, even with LeBron James participating a night after the Lakers' loss in Portland.
When healthy, the Lakers are a formidable team, but they become exceptional when Doncic, James, and Ayton all score at least 20 points in a game, as they did in their 110-93 victory over the Raptors. This win also held the Raptors to their season-low in points.
But here's where it gets controversial... The Lakers had previously lost five of their last six games, conceding over 130 points in their previous two losses.
Coach Redick acknowledged the challenges, stating, "This is a very tough time of year for everybody in the NBA right now." He highlighted the frequent absence of key players across many teams. He also noted that the team is starting to get healthy and hopes to have Austin Reaves back soon. The team's record improved to 25-16 at the halfway point of their 82-game schedule.
Ayton delivered a standout performance, achieving a double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds. He was perfect from the field, going 10 for 10, and nearly perfect from the free-throw line, making 5 of 6 attempts.
And this is the part most people miss... Ayton's performance was historic. He became only the third player in Lakers history to shoot 100% from the field on 10 attempts with at least 10 rebounds, joining Wilt Chamberlain (March 11, 1969) and Mitch Kupchak (Nov. 10, 1981).
Ayton also became the first player in the NBA this season to record a 20-point game with perfect shooting on at least 10 field-goal attempts, and the 34th player in league history to achieve this.
"I definitely give it up to my teammates," Ayton said. "They find me in the easiest spots ever and I got some easy ones tonight, for sure."
Doncic contributed 25 points and 7 assists, while James scored 24 points and also had 7 assists.
Rui Hachimura added 10 points off the bench for the Lakers.
Doncic and Ayton made their presence felt early in the game. Despite picking up three fouls and a technical foul in the first quarter, Doncic scored 18 points and had 5 assists in the first half. His three-pointer with 0.7 seconds left in the second quarter gave the Lakers a 55-54 lead. Ayton was active from the start, finishing the first half with 12 points on 6-for-6 shooting and 7 rebounds.
The Lakers are about to embark on their “Grammys Trip” on Tuesday, an eight-game road trip lasting about two and a half weeks.
This trip follows a stretch of five games in seven days, including two back-to-back games.
"We finished five games in eight nights and started five games in seven nights, and tonight’s the culmination of that," Redick said before Sunday’s game. "So it’s been a difficult stretch, particularly with injuries and certain games."
Redick planned to play 10 players in the game against the Raptors, a change from the usual nine-man rotation.
All 10 players Redick used when the game mattered most played a role in keeping the team fresh and energized, which the Lakers will need moving forward.
"Again, I’m not blaming anything, but this in-season tournament cup with that break has just created a very imbalanced cadence of games," Redick said, referring to the NBA Cup tournament. "And outside of All-Star break, I think our next two-day break between games is like the end of March, or something like that. So, you kind of have no choice but to prioritize the rest and recovery."
What do you think about the Lakers' performance and their upcoming road trip? Do you agree with Coach Redick's comments about the schedule's impact? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
