RSS Lakers Team Notes

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Crush Warriors To Snap Losing Streak

The Los Angeles Lakers have been struggling since the All-Star break, dropping three straight games with the last two coming in heartbreaking fashion.

They looked to get back in the win column on Saturday night when they traveled to take on the Golden State Warriors, who continue to be without Stephen Curry. The Lakers’ last two losses came against teams with injured stars too, but this time they were able to take care of business with an easy 129-101 win to end the skid.

The Lakers got off to a nice start with Marcus Smart and LeBron James hitting 3-pointers and then Austin Reaves driving for a layup to go up 10-2.

Golden State was ice cold early, but the Lakers were anything but as Luke Kennard, Austin Reaves and James all hit from deep to extend the lead to double digits at 33-20 at the end of the first quarter.

James and the Lakers continued to pour it on early in the second, getting the lead up to 20 with Luka Doncic on the bench. When Doncic did return, he got in on the action with a layup and an assist to James.

Eventually, the Warriors started to get going offensively and ripped off a 13-2 run to get back in it. That momentum was short-lived, however, as the Lakers got the lead back up to 65-47 going into the halftime locker room.

After a quiet first half by his standards, Doncic came alive to begin the third quarter with four triples in the first few minutes. The Lakers continued to pour it on with Reaves making a 3 and then Jake LaRavia finishing a crafty layup in transition.

The Lakers took a comfortable 99-72 lead into the fourth, seemingly on their way to an easy victory. They continued to pour it on as LaRavia connected from deep and Kennard continued his stellar night off the bench.

With the lead getting above 30 early in the fourth, the Lakers were able to rest their starters to get ready for Sunday night’s game. No one on the Lakers played more than 30 minutes in the dominant victory.

Five Lakers scored in double figures on the night with Doncic leading the way with 26 to celebrate his 27th birthday.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will now return home and host the Sacramento Kings in the second night of a back-to-back on Sunday and then the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lakers-crush-warriors-to-snap-losing-streak/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: JJ Redick Commends Luke Kennard For Creating ‘Blender’ In Offense

When the trade deadline came and went, the Los Angeles Lakers’ lone move was acquiring Luke Kennard. While Kennard is an upgrade from Gabe Vincent, there were lofty expectations to bring in more 3-and-D personnel to vault L.A. into contender status.

However, general manager Rob Pelinka shared that although he was aggressive in his pursuit of win-now deals, he opted to stay disciplined to keep future flexibility. It is worth mentioning that the former Atlanta Hawk is on an expiring deal, so his long-term future with L.A. remains uncertain, but Kennard’s play has been impressive since joined the team.

Head coach JJ Redick notices what the newest Laker adds with his 3-point shooting, along with creating a blender for their offense where the defense has to scramble to close out to Kennard and he makes read off of an opponent in a vulnerable state.

“Boy, like, Luke Kennard just, he just starts the blender for us,” Redick said following a blowout win against the Golden State Warriors. “We frankly have not had a ton of blender starters. Obviously, like Luka (Dončić) gets two on the ball, AR (Austin Reaves) will get two on the ball, LeBron (James) will get two on the ball but just to be able to create a closeout and then make the right read and right play from there. I thought our guys were incredibly unselfish tonight. It started with that starting group and then I thought Luke was huge for our offense tonight.”

Bench production, frankly, has not been an area of strength for the Lakers as they currently rank 29th out of 30 teams. So, having Kennard produce as a reserve opens up a lot and Redick applauds his mentality when he is on the floor.

“He’s got a really good ‘we score’ mentality,” Redick said. “A play can be for him, but he’s gonna hunt out the best shot and play for the team, and all of the guys benefit from that when the ball moves. I mean, look, I called an ATO for him in the second half. He scores on it. Could’ve shot it off the initial screen, created the blender, eventually got it back and hits a step-back 3. We run it again, and this is where he’s such a cerebral player. Pat Spencer tries to top block him, and he screens his own into Jake’s guy and Smart hits Jake for a layup. That’s just connective offense right there and that’s what Luke does.”

At this point, it feels like a no-brainer to keep Kennard around if the money makes sense. Having a shooting specialist next to Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James is much-needed, along with the former Blue Devil’s ability to do a little more than shoot 3-pointers.

Luka Doncic has high confidence in Luke Kennard​

Luka Doncic is a wizard with his passes as he can make any pass to an open teammate. When Luke Kennard was brought in, it felt like a seamless fit given his ability to space the floor.

Despite Doncic only playing a handful of games with his newest teammate, he already has high confidence in him.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...luke-kennard-for-creating-blender-in-offense/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Beat Kings For Second Straight Blowout Win

Coming off a wire-to-wire win over the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Lakers returned home and looked to build some momentum against the Sacramento Kings.

It was the second night of a back-to-back but the Lakers were still at full strength, and they took care of business with an easy 128-104 win over the Kings to improve their record to 36-24.

The Lakers got off to a nice start as they were moving the ball well, locked in on defense and getting out in transition. Luka Doncic had a pair of early assists and then Austin Reaves found LeBron James for an alley-oop.

After a Kings timeout, the Lakers continued to pour it on and extend their lead. Reaves also found Jaxson Hayes for an alley-oop and then Doncic hit back-to-back 3-pointers. At the end of a dominant first quarter, the Lakers doubled up the Kings, 36-18.

Malik Monk had a thunderous dunk and a 3-pointer to try to bring the Kings sone energy early in the second quarter. It didn’t change much though as the Lakers continued to add to their lead with Luke Kennard getting hot from deep.

The Kings’ frustration was mounting as Monk and Russell Westbrook both picked up technical fouls. They had a nice response for a minute though, getting their deficit down to 14. The Lakers strong led by Doncic, however, taking a 64-49 lead into the locker room.

L.A. came out flat to begin the third quarter as Sacramento quickly cut its deficit to 10, forcing a timeout by JJ Redick.

The Lakers did have a nice response from there though with Marcus Smart hitting a triple and then Doncic scoring five straight points, followed by a Hayes dunk, to get the lead back up to 19.

Doncic was doing whatever he wanted on the court, contributing on defense and creating offense for himself and his teammates. James then beat the third quarter buzzer with a 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 96-76 lead.

The fourth quarter was more of the same as LeBron had two deep 3s and threw down a huge dunk, and then Smart hit another triple to continue to extend the lead. For the second straight night, the Lakers put things away early so their starters could get some much-needed rest for most of the fourth quarter.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday before going out on the road for a tough matchup with the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lakers-beat-kings-for-second-straight-blowout-win/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Video: Luka Doncic & JJ Redick Exchange Words On Bench During Warriors Win

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is known to have a bit of a fiery personality and is unafraid to say what he feels to anyone. That same mindset applies to Lakers’ superstar Luka Doncic, who is also a serious competitor and can lash out at times during games when emotions are running high.

It would only make sense that Doncic and Redick may go back and forth at times during the game as both can be very intense and that looks to be what occurred during the Lakers’ victory over the Golden State Warriors.

As Doncic was subbed out, it appears that Redick tried to say something to him as he walked off the court, but Luka ignored him and just walked to the bench, leading the head coach to follow him and the two briefly exchanged words before things calmed down:

Luka and JJ Redick beefing??

pic.twitter.com/Nl6EcRi315

— FIRE JJ REDICK (@bryantintown) March 2, 2026

This simply feels like a case of star player and coach seeing things a bit differently and having a quick disagreement. Considering the Lakers were in control of this game against the Warriors for basically the entire night, it is highly unlikely that this was anything serious and spirits in the locker room after the game were surely high.

Both Redick and Doncic are people who are straightforward in their communication so there are sure to be times when they clash a bit, but it will get worked out later and there are no hard feelings. Kudos should also be given to Jarred Vanderbilt for being a great veteran on the bench and immediately standing in the way of Doncic, preventing him from following Redick and potentially escalating the situation further.

All in all this was simply a minor incident of player and coach being at odds, but it immediately dying down. Of course it was also Luka’s birthday so maybe he was just unhappy that Redick didn’t get him a nice gift.

Lakers’ Luka Doncic had And-1 mixtape moment vs. Kings​

There certainly was no anger between Luka Doncic and JJ Redick in the Lakers’ victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night. Even when Doncic hit a ridiculous fadeaway 3-pointer after falling to the ground, something Luka joked he did on purpose and that his teammates called it an And-1 Mixtape move.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-vid...-exchange-words-on-bench-during-warriors-win/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: JJ Redick Praises Maxi Kleber As Winning Player & Beloved Teammate

Maxi Kleber has been in and out of the Los Angeles Lakers rotation all season long. With the Lakers now mostly healthy, it would be expected that Kleber wouldn’t see many minutes, but that wasn’t the case against the Sacramento Kings as head coach JJ Redick turned to him and, as has often been the case this season, Kleber came through.

Kleber hit all three of his shots on the night, finishing with six points, six rebounds and a block in just 13 minutes as the Lakers blew out the Kings. While his numbers weren’t out of this world, his impact was felt and Redick praised him after the game as a winning basketball player and someone who is beloved by his teammates.

“We have a lot of good guys on our team. A lot,” Redick said after the win. “I love these guys. His teammates love him. He’s a terrific teammate. It’s easy to root for his success because of when he started his NBA career and some of these injuries. He’s not the same that he was when he was at his peak in Dallas, when I thought he was one of the most impactful universal defenders in the NBA. But he just plays winning basketball, [is] very unselfish and selfless.”

Kleber has dealt with his share of injuries throughout his career that have taken their toll on him physically, but he always stays ready and has been a steady contributor any time his number is called. Against the Kings, he even provided a huge highlight with his poster dunk on big man Precious Achiuwa, and Redick noted how excited everyone’s reaction was to that slam.

“I think he did a good job of screening, he did a good job of rolling,” Redick said when asked about Kleber’s strong second quarter. “The second half is more fresh on my mind just in terms of the offensive rebounding and the pocket pass he got from Luke. But he had two poster dunks tonight, things you get really excited about… The reaction from his teammates on that, it’s something that gives your group some spirit.”

As the playoffs near, Redick will likely have to shorten his rotation even further as the Lakers hope to make a strong postseason run. If he continues to play well and be a reliable contributor, Kleber could very well be someone Redick turns to in pressure situations.

Luka Doncic had And-1 Mixtape moment in Lakers win vs. Kings​

If Maxi Kleber’s poster dunk wasn’t the highlight of the night against the Kings then Luka Doncic’s unreal fadeaway 3-pointer definitely was. And Doncic laughed about it following the Lakers’ victory, claiming he slipped on purpose in what his teammates called an And-1 mixtape moment.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...xi-kleber-as-winning-player-beloved-teammate/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Video: Netflix Releases Trailer For Upcoming Lamar Odom Documentary

One of the most popular players on the Los Angeles Lakers during their late-2000s run was Lamar Odom. The extremely talented forward was crucial to the team’s back-to-back NBA Championships in 2009 and 2010 and was also named NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2011.

There just weren’t many players like Odom who had point guard skills at 6’10, capable of creating offense for himself and teammates while also having the size to bang in the paint and crash the glass. Unfortunately, the story of Odom is also filled with tragedy and addiction and an upcoming documentary is set to explore all of it.

Netflix released the trailer for UNTOLD: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom, which will premiere on March 31:

“The afterlife is not what people make it out to be.”

Lamar Odom, Khloé Kardashian, and others revisit his basketball career and the pivotal decisions that led to the infamous night at the Love Ranch that nearly cost him his life.

UNTOLD: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom… pic.twitter.com/DEsGiL62Uu

— Netflix (@netflix) March 3, 2026

This looks to be an extremely riveting look at everything Odom went through in his life. His battles with drugs are well-documented and he has been extremely open about everything he did as he now looks to help others with their own addictions after surviving what many thought cost him his life. Of course, Odom infamously was found unconscious at the Love Ranch in 2015 having suffered multiple heart attacks and 12 strokes.

Odom’s Lakers teammate Metta World Peace and former coach Phil Jackson both appear in the trailer and there will likely be many others who played with him present in the documentary, as well as all aspects of his life will be covered.

The story of Odom is truly a unique one both in terms of his basketball career and his off-court activities as he also famously married Khloe Kardashian and was a reality TV star. When this debuts, it will surely be appointment viewing for many across the world.

Lamar Odom believes he would be in Hall of Fame if not for drug addiction​

When it comes to pure talent, Lamar Odom was truly special and could have amounted to so much more in his career. But his battles with drugs never allowed him to reach his full potential in the NBA and the former Lakers star believes that is what prevented him from being a Hall of Famer.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-video-netflix-releases-trailer-for-upcoming-lamar-odom-documentary/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Come Back To Beat Pelicans For Third Straight Win

Coming off two impressive blowout victories, the Los Angeles Lakers looked to keep things going on Tuesday night when they welcomed the New Orleans Pelicans to town.

The Pelicans record may not be great, but their roster has a lot of talent, presenting a tough challenge for the Lakers. Ultimately though, the Lakers were able to take care of business with a 110-101 win to improve their record to 37-24.

Luka Doncic kicked off the scoring with a 3-pointer, which was immediately matched by Trey Murphy III. LeBron James then got in on the action from deep, although again, Murphy immediately hit another one of his own.

Zion Williamson was also super aggressive early, attacking the paint to give the Pelicans a lead. Doncic had a three-point play and then found Jake LaRavia and Luke Kennard for triples, but the Pelicans still led 33-31 at the end of first quarter.

James took over for the Lakers offensively to begin the second with back-to-back three-point plays and nine straight points overall. He then found Deandre Ayton for an alley-oop and Doncic hit another 3 to put the Lakers up double digits for the first time.

The Lakers let go of the rope a bit to end the half as Doncic was frustrated with the officiating and picked up a technical foul. The Pelicans closed the second quarter on a run to cut their deficit to 54-51 going into the halftime locker room.

Marcus Smart was playing exceptional defense to begin the second half, coming up with a steal and then finding James for a dunk in transition. One player who was really struggling though was Austin Reaves as he couldn’t get any shots to fall. The Lakers then got careless with the ball and the Pelicans took advantage to regain the lead and force a timeout from JJ Redick.

Reaves eventually got going offensively with back-to-back buckets in the paint. The Lakers couldn’t stop turning the ball over though as they had 20 as a team at the end of the third quarter and went into the fourth trailing 78-76.

L.A.’s frustration with the officiating continued early in the fourth with Deandre Ayton picking up a technical. New Orleans began to build some momentum from there as a three-point play by Zion Williamson put them up by eight.

After another timeout, the Lakers had a nice response with seven straight points. The run didn’t end there though as Reaves connected from deep to regain the lead and then Doncic scored inside.

From there, Willamson had two layups in a row to get the Pelicans deficit back to two. It was all Lakers from there as Smart hit a triple to put the game on ice.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers have a challenging back-to-back on the horizon as they will travel to take on the Denver Nuggets on Thursday before returning home and hosting the Indiana Pacers on Friday.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lakers-come-back-to-beat-pelicans-for-third-straight-win/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Marcus Smart Believes Comeback Win Over Pelicans Could Change Trajectory Of Lakers’ Season

This season has been a roller coaster for the Los Angeles Lakers as the team has gone through stretches of excellent play, while at other times looking like a team that wouldn’t make the playoffs. With their victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night, the Lakers have now won three straight games and this win seems to have meant a bit more than others.

The Lakers have not been a team that has had many comeback victories as of late, but they were able to rally in the fourth to come away with a 110-101 win and Marcus Smart played a big role in that with 10 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks. And despite what he described as a chaotic game, Smart was proud of the Lakers locking in to come out on top.

“Just staying locked in,” Smart said when asked what was the key to the win. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been in that position and had to fight back to get a victory. But it was just staying locked in, staying in control. Especially in tonight’s game it was a lot going on, with the refs, from both teams. Just chaotic, but we stayed with it and came out with the win.”

More importantly, Smart believes that a win like this can really change the trajectory of this Lakers season and push them towards being the team they believe they can ultimately become.

“Huge. Monumental for us,” Smart added. “Nights like this can change the trajectory for teams and players. So hopefully this win tonight and the way and fashion that we won it kicks our confidence up and we can keep this alive and going. Because the way we played tonight and the way we played over the last two games is something that we know we’re capable of.

“I know you guys and everybody else is hoping we can be consistent with it and that’s something that we’re trying to do. Tonight was a key factor for us to go back, look at, see what we did right and try to multiply it.”

Consistency has been an issue for the Lakers all season long, but sometimes it takes just one victory to kick everything into gear. Beating the Pelicans, a lottery team, wouldn’t seem like a catalyst of that nature, but the style in which the Lakers won, and the grit and resilience they showed down the stretch is something that can carry on going forward, and they’ll need that going into this next run of games.

JJ Redick credits Marcus Smart for starring in his role for Lakers​

In order for a team to succeed, they need the role players to really step up and deliver and Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Marcus Smart for starring in his role and giving L.A. exactly what they need from him every night.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/marcus-sma...ans-could-change-trajectory-of-lakers-season/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: JJ Redick Downplays Viral Exchange With Luka Doncic

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has been able to build his offense around Luka Doncic and the results have been great in their first full season together.

Doncic leads the league in scoring and that’s helped the Lakers stay competitive in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, Redick has done his best to get Los Angeles playing with more urgency on both ends of the floor as the 2025-26 season winds down.

With how close the standings are, it’s not unusual to see tensions run high on the sidelines. For example, Doncic and Redick were seen having words on the bench in the recent win against the Golden State Warriors and the moment went viral on social media.

However, Redick downplayed the exchange with Doncic and emphasized the two have a great relationship.

“I didn’t think much of it at the time, to be honest with you. I don’t think Luka did either,” Redick said before Tuesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. “He and I have a great relationship, I really value our relationship. And I think those things happen, not every game, but they happen very frequently and sometimes you have to rehash them with a player or as a teammate sometimes it happens player to player.

“It’s a competition and there’s two guys here, who, in this case, are trying to win a basketball game and be on the same page about stuff. Frankly, I talk about player-led teams all the time, I encourage guys talking to me or talking to our coaches and bringing stuff up and telling us what they need. I don’t know why it went viral, it felt very normal to me.”

Redick added that it’s routine for him to deal with outside noise as a member of the Lakers organization and he and Luka already discussed the incident.

“It just feels normal, which is probably part of the reason I wanted to coach the Lakers,” Redick said. “I was talking with Luka about it, we were actually laughing about it. I was like, ‘I didn’t feel any tension,’ and he was like, ‘Nah, I didn’t care about it.’ You do it and you move on. But I think the reality is, everybody is always gonna have an opinion. Since pro spots have existed, everybody has always had an opinion. Sports talk, barber shops, chat rooms, everybody’s had an opinion. Now, everybody’s opinion is more easily accessible. So it’s more amplified now. But it’s normal.”

Any sort of discord between a player and coach will get amplified, but as Redick noted these types of situations are commonplace in the NBA. Heated exchanges should be expected when a team like the Lakers can’t afford to lose many more games.

JJ Redick explains ‘daring’ part of Luka Doncic’s game​

Luka Doncic might drive JJ Redick mad with his decision making sometimes, but that’s built into his play style as a scorer and playmaker. Redick explained the daring part of Doncic’s game and how it allows the Lakers superstar to shift the tide in a game.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-jj-redick-downplays-viral-exchange-with-luka-doncic/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Timothee Chalamet Took Inspiration From LeBron James

The best actors and actresses around the world often find inspiration for their roles from other greats in different fields. Considering Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is one of the most famous figures on earth, it makes sense that many would see his career and take things from it to help them lock in to their character and one such actor is Timothee Chalamet.

Chalamet is one of the biggest and most recognizable actors today, known for his lead roles in the “Dune” movie series, as well as playing Willy Wonka in 2023 movie, Wonka. His most recent movie, however is “Marty Supreme,” a film inspired by the life of 1950s table-tennis champion Marty Reisman.

And in order to really lock himself into the role, Chalamet said that the 2009 documentary “More Than a Game,” which followed the life of LeBron and his high school basketball teammates, was extremely impactful for him, via the “Mind the Game” podcast:

“That was exactly it. You know, majorly ambitious as a New York youth to find athletic greatness the way these two men next to me found it. I never found it in my own life. But I had that aspiration, that Jose Alvarado, whatever you want to call it, that kind of that dream big mentality. And a huge part, I can’t even look LeBron in the face right now, his whole career, but really more than a game. The 2009 documentary about LeBron in high school and his classmates, his best friends. That was hugely impactful for me, man. That’s the life I aspired to have. I didn’t find it in athleticism, but I was able to find it in acting and thanks to [director] Josh [Safdie] I found it in this role. I got to put it out there for the first time.”

Chalamet is like many boys growing up in that he aspired to be a sports star, and the actor is a well-known New York Knicks fan, regularly being courtside at Madison Square Garden. Needing to embrace the mindset of the best in his craft, he was able to gain a lot by watching a young LeBron.

There are very few who athletes who have had a spotlight on them for as long as James has and handled it as well as he has and what he represents helped Chalamet figure out exactly what he needed to be in this new movie.

Lakers’ LeBron James opens up about his inspiration growing up​

LeBron James has always been very open about his childhood growing up and the difficulties being raised by a single mother and the Lakers star recently discussed his inspirations growing up.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-timothee-chalamet-took-inspiration-from-lebron-james/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Snap Winning Streak As Comeback Attempt Falls Short Vs. Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers’ schedule has entered a tough stretch, beginning with Thursday night’s matchup with the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.

If the Lakers want to be taken seriously as contenders then they need to beat some quality teams during this stretch, but that didn’t happen in this one as they battled but came up short in a 120-113 loss.

It wasn’t a great start for the Lakers as the Nuggets scored the first 11 points of the game, nine of which were by Jamal Murray. After a much-needed timeout, Luka Doncic got to the free throw line to get the Lakers on the board and then LeBron James had a driving layup.

The Lakers started to get going from there as Doncic found James for an alley-oop and then Rui Hachimura connected from deep on his first shot attempt of the night.

On the Denver side, Tim Hardaway Jr. came off the bench and made his first two triples and a midrange to give his team a 32-22 lead at the end of the first quarter. James ended the first quarter with his third field goal of the night, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most in NBA history.

Murray got hot again to begin the second, stretching the Nuggets lead to 15. At that point, the Lakers started to play some defense and got out in transition with James finishing back-to-back layups.

Jaxson Hayes was making a big impact for the Lakers, finishing everything inside to continue to cut into the deficit. After back-to-back midrange buckets by Doncic, L.A. was back within three.

Unfortunately though, the Nuggets responded with a run of their own to immediately get their lead back to double digits. It’s unclear what he said, but Doncic picked up a technical foul during that stretch. That gives him 15 for the season, which is one away from a one-game suspension.

The Nuggets were unconscious from deep to end the first half, giving them a 64-54 lead going into the locker room.

Deandre Ayton only played five minutes in the first quarter and was ruled out at halftime due to a knee injury. That meant the Lakers had to role with Hayes and small-ball for the rest of the night.

Austin Reaves got going offensively early in the third quarter and then Hachimura hit another 3 to get the deficit back to single digits. Smart then got in on the action from deep and Reaves had a layup to cut it to four.

Denver responded with yet another run of their own, but Doncic hit a circus 3 to end the third quarter so the score was 93-86 going into the fourth.

Hardaway ripped off five straight points to begin the fourth quarter, but then James took matters into his own hands by creating good looks for himself and his teammates to quickly get it back down to a five-point game.

The game remained close heading into the final minutes, but James hit his left elbow after falling and needed to come out of the game before eventually returning.

The Lakers got all the way within one, but Smart missed two open looks down the stretch. The Nuggets, on the other hand, got a pair of clutch buckets from Jokic to put the game away.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will now return home and host the Indiana Pacers in the second night of a back-to-back on Friday and then a matinee matchup with the New York Knicks on Sunday.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lake...k-as-comeback-attempt-falls-short-vs-nuggets/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Marcus Smart: Deandre Ayton Wants To Help Lakers

When Deandre Ayton signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, he made it clear that he was not concerned about scoring, but rather focused on doing all of the dirty work to help the team win games.

Things got off to a great start as Ayton was holding up his end of the bargain in the first couple months of the season.

His production and attitude have taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks, however, with him recently expressing displeasure with his role, openly saying that he is not a Clint Capela type of player.

Those comments led to a ton of criticism thrown Ayton’s way, especially as his level of play has continued to decrease. Then on Thursday night, Ayton was unfortunately limited to just five minutes of action before leaving the team’s loss to the Denver Nuggets with a knee injury.

After the game, Marcus Smart revealed how Ayton was feeling and came to his teammate’s defense amid all of the recent criticism, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“He’s down. For him, it sucked for him not to be out there. He tried to go and it just didn’t feel right for him. It sucks. We definitely could’ve used him. I know as of lately, he’s been getting a lot of backlash for his effort and play. He understands it. I know it may not seem like it, but he does. And he wants to do good and he wants to help this team. I think that’s what’s more frustrating for him because he’s trying but the way he’s trying isn’t working and he’s still trying to figure it out. But he definitely was down tonight, he just actually left talking to me, saying how he wished he could’ve been out there and how sorry he was. But he can’t control that he couldn’t go and didn’t feel it. Hopefully next game he’s ready to go, we could use him.”

Smart has always been known as a great teammate, so him defending Ayton should come as no surprise.

It remains to be seen how much time Ayton will miss with the knee injury, but the hope is that he will be back soon and can get back to how he was playing at the start of the season. If he can do that, then the Lakers will have a much better chance at making an actual run in the postseason.

Austin Reaves believes Deandre Ayton is X factor for Lakers​

Along those lines, Austin Reaves recently discussed how Deandre Ayton is the Lakers’ X factor.

“That guy right there is the X factor,” Reaves told ESPN, gesturing to Ayton. “He changes our ceiling.”

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Source: https://lakersnation.com/marcus-smart-deandre-ayton-wants-to-help-lakers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Highlights: Luka Doncic Drops 44 Points In 3 Quarters In Blowout Win Over Pacers

The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled against upper echelon teams this season, but one thing they have done well is take care of business against the bad teams.

They have another opportunity to do that on Friday night when they returned home and took on the Indiana Pacers, who are obviously tanking after Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles during the NBA Finals last season.

Considering the Lakers were in the second night of a back-to-back though, they were shorthanded in this one with LeBron James, Deandre Ayton and Maxi Kleber all out. That meant that other players needed to step up, and that’s exactly what they did to come away with a 128-117 win over Indiana to improve to 38-25.

The main force for the Lakers, as always, was Luka Doncic. He came out hot from the jump, scoring 22 points in the first quarter alone. He impressed with his two-way play all night, finishing with 44 points on 14-of-25 shooting to go along with nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. With the Lakers taking care of business early, Doncic did all of that in just three quarters of action while resting the entire fourth.

Doncic has now scored 20-plus points in the first quarter five times this season, the most by any player in a season since play-by-play was first tracked in 1996-97.

Additionally, Doncic is the only player to record at least 29 points, six made 3-pointers, six rebounds and three assists in a single half this season and the only player to do so multiple times (four) in the last 30 seasons. When he is in the zone like he was in this one, Doncic is almost impossible to stop.

The Slovenian star did receive some help though as Austin Reaves got going in the second half to finish with 19 points, two rebounds and five assists. He fouled out for just the second time in his career, although the game was well out of reach at that point so it didn’t really matter.

Luke Kennard also had a strong game for the Lakers off the bench with 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists on 6-of-9 shooting while Rui Hachimura had 13 and Marcus Smart had 11 to celebrate his 32nd birthday.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The tough part of the Lakers’ schedule continue as they host the New York Knicks in a Sunday afternoon matinee and then the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-hig...nts-in-3-quarters-in-blowout-win-over-pacers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Luke Kennard Feeling More Comfortable But Excited To Keep Growing With Lakers

Luke Kennard has been a great addition for the Los Angeles Lakers as an impactful bench scorer they had previously lacked before the trade deadline. Most sharpshooters in recent years have struggled when playing under the bright lights in L.A., but that has not been the case for Kennard.

He has scored double figure points in four games so far since becoming a Laker and is coming off another impressive game on Friday against the Indiana Pacers, scoring 15 points. Head coach JJ Redick utilizes the veteran guard as a movement shooter, running actions for him to get a shot or put him in a position to make a play.

Despite the Lakers’ star power, Kennard adds another dimension to their offensive as an above 50% 3-point shooter. Now with 13 games under his belt, the 29-year-old details how he is finding a rhythm with this team.

“Just our ball movement has progressed very well over the last few games,” Kennard said. “For me, it’s just being ready to shoot if I have a shot, and if not, just keeping the offense going and not letting it stall at all. Whether that’s me driving to the paint looking for another shot, or kicking it out. Just creating opportunities and advantages any chance we can. It’s something that I feel like I’ve fit in pretty well so far and I’m excited to see where we can keep going and grow together as a group. But it’s been a lot of fun.”

Although he is leading the league in 3-point percentage, Kennard’s overall attempts are low. Luka Doncic empowered him to shoot more following Friday’s win and the former Duke Blue Devil appreciates the belief in him from his coaches and teammates.

“Yeah, it’s been great, especially coming from a guy like that,” Kennard said. “He’s one of the best scorers to ever play the game, and it just builds confidence in you as a player to play off of him. He’s gonna make the right play, obviously he draws a lot of attention on the offensive end. He finds guys, his IQ is very high level and for me, it’s just being ready to shoot the ball when it gets to me. It’s definitely a confidence builder and I’m excited to keep playing with him and see where our chemistry can grow.”

With each game, it looks like Kennard is getting more comfortable with the Lakers playing next to Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James. As time passes, hopefully he takes more shots and those increased attempts result in an even greater scoring output.

JJ Redick commends Luke Kennard for creating ‘blender’ in offense​

While Luke Kennard did not address all of the Lakers’ needs at the trade deadline, he certainly adds something they didn’t previously have. JJ Redick is taking notice on the offensive end as he commended Kennard’s ability to create blender for the team.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/luke-kenna...able-but-excited-to-keep-growing-with-lakers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

JJ Redick: Upcoming Schedule Gives Lakers Chance To Prove Themselves Against Quality Competition

As the regular season winds down, JJ Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a peculiar situation. Record wise, L.A. is not a bad team at 38-25, but they have struggled against playoff-caliber competition.

On Thursday against the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles came out the gates flat and quickly fell behind 11-0. To their credit, they fought back, gave themselves a chance to win, but ultimately came up short.

Then on Friday, they took care of an undermanned Indiana Pacers team that has been derailed by injuries all season.

Overall on the year, the Lakers are 14-19 against teams with a winning record and 24-6 against losing teams.

If the Lakers hope to have any postseason success, they need to find ways to beat above .500 teams and plenty of those games await in the month of March.

Redick is maintaining belief in his team to find a way to beat the Western and Eastern Conference upper echelon, but knows this upcoming stretch will be a good test.

“The good news for us is that we have a lot of opportunities over the next 10 games or whatever it is to win some of those games,” Redick said. “I do think that the game last night was important because that was a game that we’ve broken throughout the year, the games like that. And they made a number of runs that went to double digits and we just kept playing and had a chance, one-possession game with a minute to go. Again, I’m confident we’re gonna find it. How we’re gonna find it, that’s where you gotta figure it out on a daily basis sometimes.”

Some noteworthy games this month include the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver, Houston Rockets twice, Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Frankly, it is make it or break it time for the Lakers as they are still fighting for playoff seeding.

Additionally, depending how seeding winds up, L.A. could certainly see one of these teams in the first round. The Lakers need to find a higher level of play and there is no better opportunity than right now.

Despite plenty of hiccups, Redick still has a pathway to get to 50 wins, which would be his second time reaching that benchmark in as many years with the Lakers. It is a tall task, but if that confidence translates to the court, Los Angeles could find themselves in a favorable position come playoff time.

JJ Redick embraces outside noise always surrounding Lakers​

Playing for the Lakers is not for everyone and that can even extend to coaching as the spotlight seemingly never turns off. As a fresh face to the head coaching sphere, JJ Redick is unbothered by all the outside noise as he instead embraces it.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/jj-redick-...prove-themselves-against-quality-competition/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Opens Up About Legacy Ahead Of Eventual Retirement

Retirement is a day that comes for every professional athlete, yet it feels like Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will never hang it up. Despite dealing with nagging injuries in his 23rd season, James found a way to still produce at a high level, averaging 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists.

Although James’ 3-point shooting is down at 31.3%, he still finds ways to be effective, such playmaking out of the low to mid post and remaining a freight train in transition, giving the Lakers easy points.

While the four-time champion can still play winning basketball at age 41, his retirement will be here sooner rather than later. Whether it is this year, next year, or even further down the line, James opened up about his perception on stepping away from the NBA, via Melissa Rohlin of the California Post:

“I kind of look at it like when you lose a loved one and you have a funeral,” James told the California Post in an exclusive interview. “People tend to be sad, but it’s also a celebration of life. I think for me, when I’m done with this game, it’ll be a celebration of life and not of loss. It’ll be a celebration of everything I’ve been able to accomplish in this game, everything I’ve put into it. The moments, all the love.”

There will never be another player like a 22-time All-Star, as his longevity has never been seen before. That is what he prided himself on, never cheating the grind and making sure to maximize every ounce of his talent:

“I didn’t cheat the game,” James told the California Post. “Listen, I’ve dedicated to this sport. I’ve never cheated the game. I’ve showed up every day on time. I’ve put my work in both on the court, off the court. Just showed grace. That’s what it’s about.

“I’ve just wanted to maximize and squeeze everything I could out of the game because I understood what it gave me, my family and everything. So I was never going to disrespect the game gods. Hopefully there are some highlights in there between my years I’ve played this game. But I never cheated the game. Ever.”

Stepping away from a sport that someone has dedicated two decades of their life to can be an uncertain feeling. However, James knows that if he is smiling at the finish line, he can be content with his career:

“Me smiling,” he said. “That’s the best way I know for sure that I’ve gotten the most out of it.”

Frankly, there is nothing left for James to prove as his list of accolades speaks for itself. However, he deserves to go out on his terms, whether that be in L.A. or elsewhere.

LeBron James reflects on becoming NBA’s all-time made field goals leader​

The latest accomplishment for LeBron James was eclipsing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for all-time made field goals. James has now surpassed Abdul-Jabbar for two scoring records and he reflected on what this latest milestone means for him.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...up-about-legacy-ahead-of-eventual-retirement/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Luka Doncic & Austin Reaves Lead Lakers To Win Over Knicks With LeBron James Out

Sunday afternoon was a fun matchup at Crypto.com Arena as the stars were out to watch the Los Angeles Lakers host the New York Knicks.

Unfortunately, LeBron James was out of the lineup due to injury, making things tough for L.A. They were up for the challenge though, coming away with an impressive 110-97 victory over the Knicks.

Austin Reaves hasn’t been playing with much aggression lately, but he got fouled on a 3-pointer and then made his next triple to kick this one off.

Neither team could get much going offensively early and Deandre Ayton played a big role in that with a pair of blocks. He then finished a lob from Luka Doncic, putting the Lakers up 11-4.

The Lakers were an the unfortunate end of the officiating as Jaxson Hayes picked up an offensive foul right as Luke Kennard was making a 3-pointer. He then picked up a technical foul, and the Knicks took advantage by responding with a 3 of their own.

That seven-point swing kept things close, although the Lakers still closed out a strong first quarter to take a 31-23 lead. Kennard capped things off with a corner triple.

Rui Hachimura, who started in place of James, was feeling it early as he hit his second 3-pointer to join Doncic in double figures. A layup by Reaves then extended the Lakers’ lead to double digits.

The Knicks began chipping away from there, although neither team could get much going offensively as the defenses made it tough. It was a poor close to the half for the Lakers, as they kept turning the ball over and allowed the Knicks to get back within five at 54-49 going into the locker room.

L.A. got back on track to begin the second half as Doncic and Reaves both hit deep triples to get the lead back to double digits.

The third quarter was all Lakers as they were locked in defensively, led by Marcus Smart. Doncic continued to lead the way on the other end, hitting a pair of circus shots to put the Lakers up 88-69 going into the fourth.

The Lakers kept pouring it on to begin the fourth quarter as Kennard completed a four-point play and then Reaves hit another 3 to get the lead up to 23.

From there though, the Knicks ripped off a 12-2 run to get back within striking distance and keep it from getting out of reach.

After a much-needed timeout, Doncic stayed calm and buried a midrange jumper over two defenders and then took a charge. Both teams went ice cold from there, which allowed the Lakers to close out the win as New York never made a real push.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers have three more games to wrap up their homestand, hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, Chicago Bulls on Thursday and Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-luka...ers-to-win-over-knicks-with-lebron-james-out/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Will JJ Redick Give Adou Thiero Another Opportunity In Lakers’ Rotation?

If there is one thing the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster has lacked this season, it is athleticism and defensive prowess on the wing. One player they hoped could provide that is rookie Adou Thiero, who they drafted in the second round out of Arkansas.

Unfortunately, Thiero hasn’t been able to make much of an impact this season. He was dealing with a knee injury over the summer that cost him Summer League, training camp and the preseason.

He was eventually able to return and made some short cameos in the Lakers’ rotation, although he then suffered another knee injury that kept him out for around six weeks.

Thiero is now healthy and has been spending time with the Lakers’ G League team to get back in a rhythm. He had his best game on Sunday night in Santa Cruz, scoring 25 points to go along with six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal on 10-of-12 shooting and a perfect 5-of-5 from deep.

At practice on Monday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick discussed Thiero’s progress and if he envisions him getting another look in the rotation this season.

“I think with him, he didn’t have a summer. Had some medical issues, didn’t get to play, didn’t get to do preseason. So kind of was catching up. We had some injuries, got him some rotation minutes. But then he got hurt again,” Redick said.

“Adou and I talked at the beginning of the year, and really felt that this was, particularly with not knowing when he would come back and be healthy, that this was very likely gonna be a development year, particularly at the beginning, and then to have the re-injury. So he needs to play basketball. I think we had a great conversation last week just about the importance of being down there and really just being coached and working on the right habits. I think in four of the last five games (in the G League), he’s been really good. He’s been really good. I think he’s in a good spot to sort of embrace that. As far as it relates to our rotation, I have a hard enough time when we’re healthy getting everyone minutes as it is. But I think our staff, myself, I know I was pushing for it early in the year, definitely want to get him opportunities. Those opportunities are not there right now. That’s just the reality.”

The Lakers definitely have a crowded rotation, so it makes sense that Redick is struggling to find playing time for someone like Thiero.

While it’s unfortunate because the rookie can provide an element the Lakers don’t otherwise have, it seems they are taking the long-term approach with Thiero, focusing on his development as they gear up for a postseason run.

JJ Redick pleased with where Lakers are at after win over Knicks​

The Lakers are coming off their best win and defensive performance of the season on Sunday against the New York Knicks. While Redick doesn’t want to overreact, he is pleased with where the team is at heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/will-jj-redick-give-adou-thiero-another-opportunity-in-lakers-rotation/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: LeBron James Questionable Vs. Timberwolves

LeBron James (right hip contusion and left foot arthritis) is being listed as questionable for the Los Angeles Lakers’ contest on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

James has sat out the Lakers’ last two games, victories over the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks.

Prior to that, LeBron had sat out just once in the last 27 games as he has begun rounding into form for the Lakers during this final stretch of the season. So far this season the Lakers are 9-2 in games in which James is out, but both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have played.

The Lakers are in a battle for playoff positioning in the Western Conference and getting James, Doncic and Reaves all clicking together is imperative for this team’s potential playoff success.

Tuesday’s game against the Timberwolves is a huge one as Minnesota is currently third in the West, just one game ahead of the Lakers, who are fifth. The Lakers have already beaten the Timberwolves twice this season, but they both came in the first week of the season so this game will give a much better view of where these two teams stand against each other as potential playoff opponents.

Of course, these two teams met in the first round of the playoffs last season and the Timberwolves took out the Lakers in five games so there is some history here.

Having LeBron on the court would be nice against a Timberwolves team known for their size and physicality. With Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Naz Reid up front, not to mention defensive ace Jaden McDaniels and, of course, Anthony Edwards leading the charge, the Lakers will be in for a battle.

The key will be whether they can continue to keep up their defensive effort that they have shown lately, especially in Sunday’s victory over the Knicks. The Lakers kept one of the best offenses in the league under 100 points and never let up even as their offense struggled through stretches.

If LeBron is able to suit up, the Lakers must ensure their energy level doesn’t dip, especially on defense and if they can do that, they have a chance for another big win that will move them up the standings.

JJ Redick pleased with where Lakers are at after win over Knicks​

Lakers head coach JJ Redick was happy with the effort of his team in their win over the Knicks Sunday and he spoke about the positives he saw in the victory, and with how the Lakers have been playing overall as of late.

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-report-lebron-james-questionable-vs-timberwolves/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Luke Kennard Enjoying Open Looks He’s Getting Playing With Lakers

A lot of sharpshooters have struggled playing under the bright lights with the Los Angeles Lakers in recent years, but that has not been the case with Luke Kennard.

The Lakers’ trade deadline acquisition has been one of the best shooters in the league throughout his career, and that has continued in purple and gold. In 14 games with the team, Kennard is averaging 10.4 points while shooting 59.8% from the field and 51.1% from 3-point range.

A big reason for that is the open looks Kennard is getting playing next to Luka Doncic, as well as LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

After practice on Monday, Kennard spoke about that and how he always envisioned it being the case playing next to elite playmakers.

“For sure. There’s players in the league you go up against where it’s like, damn, it’s pretty special what they can do,” Kennard said. “Just playing against Luka, I’ve played against him for a while now and in the playoffs, you see how open guys have been from the 3-point line, especially in his time in Dallas when I played against him with the Clippers. He just generates so much activity for us and open looks. It’s definitely something you think about like, ‘Man, I wish that was me there getting those open looks.’ But now, it’s a reality and it’s been great.”

Kennard expected to get these type of shots when he was acquired by the Lakers, but the results so far have exceeded those expectations.

“Yeah. Even more,” he said. “It’s like, when you’re around him every day, you’re seeing what he’s doing. Obviously when I wasn’t on his team, you still see what they do and what they can do, and then you see it when you play against him. But now, every day it’s pretty special being a part of it. Yeah, it’s been more than what I expected. For sure.”

Overall on the season, Kennard is shooting 50% from 3 in 60 games with the Lakers and Atlanta Hawks. That is a very tough threshold to reach for a full season, but Kennard has a chance to do it.

“I think it’ll kind of even out at the end of the day, but it would be really cool if that happened,” Kennard said. “But at the same time, it’s just trying to get attempts and just being aggressive in that aspect. Whatever happens, happens.”

JJ Redick impressed with Luke Kennard’s all around play​

Luke Kennard is showing that he isn’t just a spot-up shooter with the Lakers as head coach JJ Redick has been impressed with the other aspects of his game as well.

“I thought he was a really good shooter at Duke,” Redick said. “He’s developed into an elite shooter and really just a fantastic playmaker. And I think the gravity of his shot, both from a spacing standpoint and from a blender standpoint, so the overreaction to the threat of his shot when he gets the ball just allows him to touch the paint for us, allows him to get the blender started.”

If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.

Source: https://lakersnation.com/luke-kennard-enjoying-open-looks-hes-getting-playing-with-lakers/