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[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: LeBron James Tip-In Helps Lakers Beat Pacers At Buzzer

After three straight loss, the Los Angeles Lakers looked to get back on track on Wednesday night when they continued their road trip against the Indiana Pacers.

While it wasn’t easy, the Lakers were able to emerge victorious with a 120-119 win on a LeBron James tip-in at the buzzer.

The Lakers jumped out to a quick 6-0 start in this one with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves both finding Jaxson Hayes for thunderous dunks. That was met by eight quick points by the Pacers though as the Lakers were committing costly turnovers, allowing easy transition points.

After a timeout, the Lakers have a nice response with Rui Hachimura and Doncic both connecting from deep. Doncic wound up hitting three triples in a row, but the Pacers responded with another run before Gabe Vincent ended the first quarter with a 3-pointer to cut L.A.’s deficit to 33-28.

The Lakers’ run continued into the second quarter with them ripping off six straight more points to force a Pacers timeout. L.A.’s run didn’t stop there as it wound up being 18 straight points before the Pacers scratched.

Reaves, who had his career-high against the Pacers last month, led the way during that run with 11 straight points to extend the lead to double digits. Doncic then returned to the game and picked up where Reaves left off offensively, sending the Lakers into the halftime locker room with a 68-55 lead after a 40-22 second quarter.

As has been the case a lot lately, the Lakers came out flat in the third quarter as Myles Turner had 10 straight points to get the Pacers back in it. Turnovers continued to be an issue for L.A. with Indiana taking advantage. Once they caught fire from deep, the Lakers needed a timeout with their lead down to just two.

Dorian Finney-Smith and Vincent had a nice response out of the timeout with back-to-back triples. The Pacers stayed hot though and cut their deficit to 95-92 going into the fourth quarter.

James went into the final quarter with just three points, meaning his streak of 1,282 straight games in double figures was in serious jeopardy. Naturally though, he went into attack mode and had back-to-back buckets, a pair of free throws and then a layup to start the fourth and quickly get into double figures to keep his streak alive.

That spurt by LeBron helped get the lead back to double digits, although that was short-lived as the Pacers immediately responded with a 17-2 run to take their first lead since the second quarter.

Doncic got a 3 and then a layup to go to stop the bleeding for the Lakers, but things remained close heading into the final couple of minutes.

After a quiet night, Hachimura drained two triples in a row to keep his team ahead. The Lakers had some more costly turnovers though, and a three-point play by Tyrese Haliburton put the Pacers up 119-118 in the final minute.

The Lakers had one last chance and Doncic missed a midrange shot, but James was there to tip it in right as time expired for the big win.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers don’t have time to rest as they now travel to take on the Chicago Bulls in the second night of a back-to-back on Thursday. The Bulls blew out the Lakers in L.A. last week so the latter would love to get some revenge with a win in Chicago.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lebron-james-tip-in-helps-lakers-beat-pacers-at-buzzer/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Discusses Evolution Of Relationship With Kobe Bryant

LeBron James will go down as one the greatest players in Los Angeles Lakers history given all he’s accomplished with the storied franchise.

James has captured an NBA championship and Finals MVP as well as broken the all-time scoring record set by fellow Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar while donning the purple and gold. Those accomplishments on their own make him a franchise icon, but he’s done so much more since arriving in Los Angeles.

Even in Year 22, James continues to awe and amaze on the basketball court which people like Kobe Bryant certainly would’ve appreciated.

In an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, James opened up about his relationship with Bryant and how it grew exponentially more once he joined the Lakers:

“The funny thing is me and Kobe besides –the late great Kob’– me and Kobe never had a real relationship either until we was on the Olympics team. We had a great relationship there. Olympic team eight, Olympics team 12 but it was always competitive between us. We were always like…I was on the East Coast he was on the West Coast and it was like even though we never…I shit the bed one time in ’09 and didn’t beat Orlando and didn’t get my opportunity to play him in the Finals.

“Until I became a Laker and then he retired that’s when our relationship became really, really good. He like welcomed me, he called me like, ‘Bro, anything you need in L.A. like I got you. You a Laker now, you family,’ and we would have multiple conversations. Obviously you guys saw him coming to a lot of games and things of that nature and when I passed him for the scoring record in Philly I think he had a tweet out there like, ‘Keep on going. Keep transcending the game, keep going’ and that shit meant so much to me.”

It was no secret that James and Bryant had a tense rivalry at the peak of their powers, but the mutual respect and admiration shone through once the latter retired. James and Bryant are two of the most influential players in NBA history, and it’s great to hear they were able to build a strong relationship later in life.

ALlen Iverson includes LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in all-time starting five​

The NBA has been fortunate to have so many great players come through the league, including stars like Allen Iverson. Iverson has a lot of respect for the game of basketball and he had no problem including LeBron James and Kobe Bryant on his all-time starting five.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...s-evolution-of-relationship-with-kobe-bryant/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Josh Giddey’s Halfcourt Shot Helps Bulls Beat Lakers At Buzzer

Coming off a buzzer-beating win, the Los Angeles Lakers looked to build some momentum as they continued their road trip against the Chicago Bulls in the second night of a back-to-back.

The Bulls blew the Lakers out in L.A. last week so the latter was looking for some revenge. Ultimately, they weren’t able to get it as they choked away a lead in the final minute and then lost on a halfcourt buzzer-beater by Josh Giddey to secure a 119-117 win for Chicago.

It was a bit of a slow start for the Lakers before Luka Doncic connected from deep on a nice pass by LeBron James. L.A. still needed an early timeout though with Chicago taking a 16-7 lead.

The Lakers weren’t getting their outside shots to fall while the Bulls were pushing the pace and using their speed and athleticism. Despite some nice buckets inside from Jaxson Hayes, the Lakers still trailed 32-22 at the end of the first.

Austin Reaves got going to start the second quarter with 10 straight points for L.A. to start to chip into that deficit. The Lakers went to a zone defense and found some success until Giddey ripped off five straight points.

Doncic found some success throwing lobs to Hayes, and the Lakers closed the half strong to take a 59-58 lead after Gabe Vincent beat the buzzer with a deep 3-pointer.

The Lakers came out strong to start the third quarter, beginning to get going from deep with Dorian Finney-Smith and Doncic both connecting. Doncic then found James for a thunderous alley-oop to extend the lead to double digits.

It was all Doncic in the third as he controlled the pace and found open looks for himself and others, including a pair of triples by Jordan Goodwin to give L.A. a 91-75 lead going into the fourth.

The Bulls weren’t just gonna pack it in from there as they quickly cut their 16-point deficit in half with Coby White catching fire, forcing a Lakers timeout. In fact, L.A.’s lead got down to five before Doncic returned and scored to restore order.

Again though, Chicago would not go away quietly as another 8-0 run kept it close going into the home stretch. Kevin Huerter buried a triple to cut the Lakers’ lead to one in the final minute, but Reaves came up with a massive bucket despite rolling his ankle a couple of minutes earlier.

The Bulls had a chance to tie it but Giddey missed a bunny and the Lakers made free throws. It still wasn’t over though as Patrick Williams hit a 3 and then the Lakers turned it over, immediately converting another 3 by White to take a one-point lead.

Reaves had another big bucket down the stretch on what appeared to be a game-winner before Giddey hit the half-court prayer to complete the insane comeback victory.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers will close out their road trip on Saturday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, who could have big standings implications in a tight Western Conference playoff race.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-josh-giddeys-halfcourt-shot-helps-bulls-beat-lakers-at-buzzer/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

JJ Redick: Lakers ‘Very Confident’ In Jordan Goodwin After Signing Him To Standard NBA Contract

The Los Angeles Lakers are in the thick of the playoff race as the Western Conference standings are changing almost every day.

The Lakers have had a relatively strong showing since the All-Star break ended, though are starting to show signs of wear and tear near the end of the 2024-25 season. The team’s schedule has been brutal as they had to endure a stretch of six games in eight nights and are currently playing every other day. With so many games bunched up, head coach JJ Redick has had to get creative with players’ minutes.

One bright spot during this run has been Jordan Goodwin, who endeared himself to the coaching staff and his teammates with his hustle, grit and physicality, especially on the defensive end. Los Angeles recognized Goodwin’s play and rewarded him by signing him to a standard NBA contract following Cam Reddish’s release. That allows him to be playoff-eligible.

Prior to the game against the Chicago Bulls, Redick discussed what Goodwin brings to the Lakers and how excited they are to have him, via Khobi Price of the Southern California News Group:

“Just his competitive spirit, his toughness. I joked with him in the morning, he can’t get soft on us now. He’s been a banshee for us since he’s been with us on the two-way and has provided not just the attitude, the toughness on the court, but he’s played some really good basketball for us. We’re very confident in him.”

Goodwin signed his two-way contract midway through the regular season but immediately got rotation minutes with the team struggling with some injuries. It didn’t take long for Goodwin to earn more minutes as his defensive tenacity and versatility made him an easy player to slot in any lineups.

While he might not be a very polished offensive threat, Goodwin’s a credible 3-point shooter who has been willing to let it fly when opposing teams leave him open. However, his best trait might be his nose for the basketball as he always seems to be in the right place to make a play on the floor.

Goodwin should continue to serve as a key member off the bench and it’ll be interesting to see if he can still have the same impact once the playoffs roll around.

Austin Reaves feels Lakers need to communicate better on defense​

The Lakers’ defense has predictably slipped amidst this rough stretch in the schedule, but Austin Reaves wouldn’t make excuses for the team. Instead, he said the Lakers need to communicate better on defense despite any fatigue.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/jj-redick-...n-after-signing-him-to-standard-nba-contract/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

LeBron James Breaks Down Final Minute Of Lakers’ Loss To Bulls Including ‘Horrible’ Turnover

LeBron James snapped the Los Angeles Lakers’ losing streak with a game-winning tip-in against the Indiana Pacers, giving the team something to finally celebrate amidst this rough patch.

James has been working himself back into game shape after missing time with a groin injury, and he continued to look good physically when the Lakers took on the Chicago Bulls. Los Angeles had plenty of motivation against Chicago as they were blown off their home floor last week.

That was a bad loss given how dominant the Bulls looked, and unfortunately Chicago managed to top it after Josh Giddey hit a half-court heave to beat the buzzer and hand the Lakers their worst loss of the 2024-25 season. It was a disastrous final minute for Los Angeles as they gave up multiple 3-pointers to allow Chicago to climb back in the game.

The worst moment came when LeBron James threw a poor inbounds pass that directly led to a Coby White 3-pointer. After the loss, James was critical of the play and gave Giddey credit for his shot, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“I mean, we put ourselves in position to win. Gave up a lot of 3s in the fourth quarter, but still put ourselves in a position to win. Horrible turnover by myself. Bad miscommunication the play before that, but AR still hit a big bucket trying to save us and then you tip you hat when someone makes a game-winner from half-court.”

James also noted that the only way to get over a devastating loss like this one is to try and win the next game:

“There’s another game in less than two days. That’s how you deal with it.”

LeBron lamented the team’s poor defense in the fourth quarter as they gave up over 40 points:

“We can’t give up 40-plus. We gave up 32 in the first quarter and then we played great ball from there on, 26 in the second, 17 in the third. You give up 44 (in the fourth), it doesn’t matter how many points you’re up. It’s just not ingredients for success.”

James concluded that there’s no time to dwell on losses because there’s no changing results:

“That’s the NBA. That’s the NBA, you can’t go into a game on Saturday thinking about the game on Thursday.”

James has been in the league for a long time and understands the ebbs and flows of a regular season, but even he has to admit that this is particularly deflating. The only thing he and the purple and gold can do now is move on and hopefully win against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

LeBron James speaks about ability to impact games without scoring​

LeBron James didn’t have a particularly efficient night shooting the basketball against the Bulls, going 8-of-20 from the field. However, James is more than just a scorer and he spoke about his ability to impact games outside of putting up points.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lebron-jam...rs-loss-to-bulls-including-horrible-turnover/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Magic Johnson Gives Candace Parker Flowers Ahead Of Sparks Jersey Retirement

Los Angeles Sparks legend Candace Parker announced her retirement in 2024 after 16 seasons with 13 of those being with L.A.

In totality, Parker was a two-time MVP, seven-time All-Star, 2013 All-Star MVP and three-time WNBA champion. She played in 410 games and averaged 16 points, 8.5 rebounds and four assists on 47.9% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range.

Known for her time with the Sparks, she averaged 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists on 48.2% from the field and 33.7% from distance. This week, it was announced that the Sparks would retire Parker’s No. 3 jersey and part-owner and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson spoke about how excited he is for her, via Ramona Shelburne of ESPN:

“Candace Parker has left an indelible mark on the Los Angeles Sparks, not only as one of the greatest players to ever grace the court, but as a true ambassador of our franchise and women’s basketball as a whole,” Sparks co-owner Magic Johnson said in a statement. “Retiring Candace’s No. 3 jersey is not just a celebration of her extraordinary career, but a tribute to the enduring mark she’s left on this organization, the WNBA, and the city of Los Angeles. She will forever be a part of the Sparks family.”

As a No. 1 overall pick of L.A. back in 2008, Parker poured everything she had into the city and got rewarded with championships. She was a dominant scorer and an underrated defensive player as she won Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and was a two-time block champion.

The decision to retire her jersey was a no-brainer as the Crypto.com Arena is home to legends and champions hanging in the rafters. In 2016, Parker brought a championship after a 14-year drought by beating the Minnesota Lynx in the Finals.

That season was her best 3-point shooting season as she shot 38.2%, in addition to being in the MVP race. Looking back at Parker’s career, she is certainly solidified as one of the greats in the WNBA and is now a broadcaster and analyst. Her impact on women’s basketball will not be forgotten as she empowered women around the globe with her play and now her voice.

Candace Parker trains Kobe Bryant’s daughter Bianka​

Once the greats decide to hang it up, it is always great to see what new endeavors they embark on. As Candace Parker looks to pay it forward to the next generation, she is training Kobe Bryant’s daughter Bianka with the hope of sparking a love for basketball.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...er-flowers-ahead-of-sparks-jersey-retirement/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers End Road Trip Strong With Big Win Over Grizzlies

The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up their road trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night in a game that had massive standings implications.

The Lakers and Grizzlies came in tied for fifth in the West with identical 44-29 records. Not only would a win put the L.A. a game up on Memphis, but it would also clinch the regular season tiebreaker. Ultimately, the Lakers were able to come out on top with a big 134-127 victory.

After making a rare mistake at the end of the Chicago Bulls loss, LeBron James was playing with a purpose early. So was Ja Morant though as he made his return to the lineup after missing six games with a hamstring strain.

The Lakers were shooting well from deep early with James, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic all connecting to take an early lead. Gabe Vincent then got in on the action with nine points and the Lakers closed the first quarter strong to take a 39-28 lead.

Vincent stayed hot to begin the second quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers and the James hit one as well after taking a charge to continue the run and stretch the lead to 20.

From there though, the Grizzlies responded with a 15-2 run as the Lakers missed some easy layups and allowed them to get out in transition. The Lakers did a nice job of not letting go of the rope and closed the half strong, taking a 72-61 lead into the locker room.

The Grizzlies ripped off an 13-4 run to start the second half as the Lakers’ third quarter woes appeared to continue, forcing them to take a timeout with the lead down to two.

Desmond Bane was hot at that point and gave the Grizzlies their first lead before Reaves hit a triple to start an 8-0 run to get L.A. back on track. It still wasn’t a great third quarter overall for the Lakers though as Ja Morant ended it with a three-point play to cut Memphis’ deficit to 102-99 going into the fourth.

After dealing with foul trouble in the first half, Jaren Jackson Jr. really got going for his team to regain the lead early in the fourth. The Lakers’ lack of size was glaring as the Grizzlies were able to get whatever they wanted inside.

James and Doncic began to lock in from there though sensing the importance of this game. After a triple by Dorian Finney-Smith, the Grizzlies needed a timeout with L.A. back up five.

The Lakers defense locked in down the stretch and Reaves had some big buckets and free throws, closing out the victory for his team.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers will now return home, but the schedule doesn’t get any easier as they host the Houston Rockets on Monday and then the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lakers-end-road-trip-strong-with-big-win-over-grizzlies/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Gabe Vincent: Lakers Were Just As Desperate For Win As Grizzlies

The Los Angeles Lakers were reeling after a demoralizing loss to the Chicago Bulls, but Saturday night presented an opportunity to pick up a significant win against the Memphis Grizzlies. In what felt like an all-around team win, Gabe Vincent set the tone in the first half.

He would put up 15 points and drill four 3-pointers to get the Lakers a double-digit lead. Unfortunately, Memphis would battle back in the second half to recapture the lead, but L.A. responded accordingly to close out the win.

The Grizzlies came in fresh off the firing of head coach Taylor Jenkins so were clearly desperate for a win. After their loss to the Bulls though, Vincent feels the Lakers were just as desperate.

“I mean, I feel like we were desperate for a win,” Vincent said after their 134-127 victory. “So, I really didn’t give a damn about how they [Grizzlies] were. As far as the buzzer-beater goes, I mean we just won one the night before. Sometimes you lose ’em, sometimes you win ’em, you just gotta charge that to the game. There’s a lot of games in a season. We had to come out with the right mentality, we knew we needed a win to try and close out this road trip the right way. Playing for something bigger, just trying to get ourselves back on track.”

Vincent certainly displayed that desperation as he made his impact felt immediately in his first minutes of the game. He credited being aggressive for helping him find a rhythm from distance.

“I think I was just being aggressive early,” he said. “I think I got to the rim early that always helps. We were moving the ball well in that first half and it found me. And I was being shot aggressive and I made some shots, it was helpful.”

Heading into this matchup with the Grizzlies, the Lakers needed this win to keep themselves in the mix for homecourt in the postseason. So there was added juice on both sides and despite it not being perfect, Vincent liked the team’s grit to find a way to win.

“I wouldn’t say it was perfect by any means, but we showed a good level of grit, especially down the stretch. You know our third quarters historically haven’t been the best and this game it wasn’t great either. But, we found a way to rally within it and salvage it and then we closed it in the fourth.”

Now, only eight games remain and seeding may fluctuate up to the final day of the regular season. Picking up a win of this magnitude strengthens L.A.’s chances of staying home in the first round and avoiding the Play-In Tournament, which has been their goal all along.

Gabe Vincent believes Lakers are building an identity​

After completely flipping their roster upside down by bringing in Luka Doncic at the trade deadline, the Lakers needed to re-establish an identity. Luckily, there have not been too many growing pains, but there have been disappointing losses.

Despite those, Gabe Vincent believes the team is building an identity, which revolves around defense.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/gabe-vincent-lakers-were-just-as-desperate-for-win-as-grizzlies/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Rui Hachimura Enjoying ‘Wide Open’ Shots Created By Lakers’ Stars

Injuries affect every NBA team, some more than others, but it unfortunately struck the Los Angeles Lakers at a bad time with LeBron James and Rui Hachimura recently missing extended time.

Both James and Hachimura have returned in time to ramp up for the playoffs, although since becoming whole once again, L.A. has struggled on both sides of the ball, resulting in a 2-2 road trip.

Coming into a massive matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies with seeding implications on the line, the Lakers fortunately pulled out a win. It was their best offensive performance in a while, and Hachimura discussed how James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are getting open looks for him and his teammates.

“Being around those three guys (James, Doncic and Reaves), the fit and we talked about it after the game too,” he said after Saturday’s 132-127 win. “Doe Doe, Gabe (Vincent), myself, I think we can get literally wide open shots every time. For other teams, they have to guard those three guys literally. So, I think that was a great team win and we got to keep building chemistry. We had a little stretch of lot of injured guys, in and out, schedule and whatever. But, we got to get back to wherever we left off in March. We got to keep building our chemistry to prepare for the playoffs.”

As a team, the Lakers shot 44% from deep against Memphis with Hachimura going 3-of-5 and finishing with 13 points.

Integrating an all-world talent in Doncic is a great problem for head coach JJ Redick to have, but the team certainly showcased it’s ceiling in the beginning of March and now against the Grizzlies. Now, it is about replicating that dominant play while maintaining their defense.

Since having a healthy team again, the defensive end has dropped significantly with the communication and rotations. Memphis got going offensively in the second half, but thankfully L.A.’s impressive 3-point shooting kept them afloat.

While Hachimura is still working back to 100% health, he showed how impactful he is for the Lakers and how important he will be to the team reaching its goals.

Rui Hachimura still not feeling 100% healthy despite returning​

In what looked to be a freak accident, Rui Hachimura injured his knee on a dunk back on Feb. 27. Hachimura missed a few weeks with left patellar tendinopathy and admitted that he still is not feeling 100% healthy and may not be until the season is over.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/rui-hachimura-enjoying-wide-open-shots-created-by-lakers-stars/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: JJ Redick Leading Efforts To Repair Palisades Recreation Center

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick hosted a special basketball clinic on Sunday for kids who were impacted by the wildfires earlier this year.

Redick also launched the LA Strong Sports foundation to help support the development of sports facilities and programs throughout Los Angeles.

The Lakers and Coach Redick hosted a special basketball clinic for kids impacted by the LA fires.

JJ launched LA Strong Sports to support the development of community sports facilities and programs throughout LA, starting with areas affected by the wildfires. pic.twitter.com/xHZnY3BGfG

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 31, 2025

Southern California was raved by multiple wildfires this past January that caused billions of dollars worth of damage and displaced many families. Redick was among those who lost their home in Pacific Palisades and recently returned to the site for the first time.

Redick said he won’t let the devastation deter him and reiterated his hope to be the Lakers head coach for many years to come, via Dan Woike of the L.A. Times:

“I’m not moving again. I’m not moving my kids again,” Redick told The Times as he drove back toward his home for the first time since it burned down in the Palisades fire. “We’re in it for the long haul. I would love to be the Lakers coach for the next 15 to 20 years. If I’m not the Lakers coach, I’m in it for the long haul in L.A.”

Redick was particularly disheartened to see the damage done to the Palisades Recreation Center and is leading repair efforts:

“What I’ve learned the most is that everyone has sort of recognized the need for expediency,” Redick said. “And for me, I’m just hopeful, not only for L.A. but also California, that going forward when an issue is sort of identified that needs to be resolved, that we can all sort of get along and move with expediency.”

Redick understands the importance of the Palisades Recreation Center and hopes it can reopen as soon as possible:

“Hopeful that, we can get this done in a timely fashion,” he said. “Hopefully, we can have people back.”

Redick’s new foundation has already pledged a $10 million donation to go towards rebuilding the Palisades Recreation Center and other parts of the community. His ultimate goal is to raise $50 million for further repairs to the Greater L.A. area.

JJ Redick challenged Lakers to get back on track​

After a heartbreaking loss to the Chicago Bulls, the Lakers got back on track by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies to close out their road trip.

JJ Redick met with Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic and LeBron James before the game to discuss the importance of bouncing back.

“We challenged all three of them when we get to their three-man actions to play with a little more force and a little more thrust and a little more creativity,” Redick said. “We were able to get some great stuff in the fourth quarter off that and create advantages we envisioned creating when we put those three guys together.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...fforts-to-repair-palisades-recreation-center/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Highlights: Gabe Vincent & Dorian Finney-Smith Come Up Big Offensively In Win Over Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers returned home and hosted the No. 2 seeded Houston Rockets in a game that had massive implications for the Western Conference standings.

Neither team was able to get much going offensively, particularly early, but the Lakers pulled through late and hung on for a 104-98 victory. The Lakers are now 2.5 games back of the No. 2 seed with seven games to play and control their own destiny for a top-four seed at the very least. If they get some help across the league, they could get up to third or second.

It was a balanced scoring effort for the Lakers as five players were in double figures but non scored more than 20. Luka Doncic led the way as usual with 20 points, six rebounds, nine assists and two steals. Despite shooting 6-for-16 from the field, Doncic was getting a ton of open looks for his teammates.

The two players who made the most out of those looks were Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith, who both had 20 points off the bench. Vincent shot 6-of-13 from deep while Finney-Smith was 6-of-11. They became the first pair of Lakers teammates with six-plus 3-pointers each off the bench in the same game.

While it wasn’t a huge night on the stat sheet for LeBron James, he came up big down the stretch with some clutch free throws and then a block to seal it. With the Lakers leading late, James had a thunderous block on Alperen Sengun after anticipating his layup attempt. LeBron ended up finishing with 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in 38 minutes.

It was also a quiet night for Austin Reaves by his standards, although he still wound up with 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals on 5-of-11 shooting. He also had some big defensive plays, including taking a charge when the game was close in the fourth quarter.

With this win, the Lakers are now 12-1 against Western Conference teams since the All-Star break. That bodes well for them moving forward as they have played all of the Eastern Conference teams on their schedule, meaning they would be facing exclusively West teams until the NBA Finals if they were to advance that far.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers’ home stand continues with a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday against the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans, respectively, before going back on the road.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-hig...-come-up-big-offensively-in-win-over-rockets/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Luka Doncic: Lakers Have To Play Every Game Like They Did Vs. Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers earned a gritty victory against the Houston Rockets on Monday night. Luka Doncic was one of three players to lead the team with 20 points in a 104-98 victory. It was reminiscent of the types of wins the Lakers would get when Doncic first joined the team, showing a defensive energy that had been missing from the last handful of games.

It came at a huge time, too. With the win, the Lakers separated themselves from the pack of teams fighting to avoid the Play-In Tournament from the No. 5 seed Memphis Grizzlies to the No. 8 seed L.A. Clippers. They also gave themselves a fighting chance to catch the Rockets and Denver Nuggets at No. 2 and No. 3 over the final seven games of the season.

Doncic assessed the Lakers performance against the Rockets and had nothing but positive things to say. In fact, it’s the type of showing he believes the Lakers are capable of putting together every single time they play.

“Great, very comfortable. As you saw today, today we fought, we fought really hard,” Doncic said. “It was a very physical game. We’ve got to play like this every game. If we play like this in the defensive end, on offense, we didn’t do much outside Gabe [Vincent] and Dorian [Finney-Smith]. But we shared the ball, we played forward with pace, and we just got to play like that.”

Doncic was asked how much he looks at the standings in the Western Conference, and he revealed that it’s not a personal thing so much as a team conversation. Either way, that’s not where his main concern is.

“A little bit. We talk as a group mostly,” he said. “But we just got to go game by game, and that’s what I always say. We can’t look forward. We got to go game by game. Every game is a different challenge, so we just got to go game by game.”

The Lakers star joked about the team not having any time to develop chemistry off the court given the condensed schedule, but still feels like they’re growing as a unit.

“Well, we didn’t do dinner yet. We had so many games, so we didn’t have time for that. But, off the court is great. Everybody joking in the locker room. Then when we need to lock in, we lock in. So the chemistry is a great part of it.”

Doncic has seemingly found some comfort with the Lakers, and it shows on nights like Monday with a hard-earned win in an important game.

LeBron James: Lakers need to play with urgency​

With seven games remaining in the regular season, LeBron James urged the team to play with urgency the way they did against the Rockets and Grizzlies. And while he is aware of the standings, the goal should be to play playoff-level basketball starting now.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/luka-doncic-lakers-have-to-play-every-game-like-they-did-vs-rockets/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Video: LeBron James Talks Willingness To Sacrifice For Luka Doncic & Austin Reaves

When the Los Angeles Lakers made the blockbuster trade that landed them Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, it was clear that the team’s gameplan was going to be altered significantly. And one of the biggest changes was that, for arguably the first time in 22 years, LeBron James would not be the No. 1 option on his own team.

Some wondered if LeBron would be able to adapt to an off-ball role, or if it would become a stagnant isolation game that trades off between him and Luka. The early returns are not only that LeBron transitioned into an off-ball role for Doncic, but he seems to be doing so for Austin Reaves as well.

In less than two months, James has become essentially the perfect role player, while Doncic and Reaves drive the bus. He spoke about this transition with Steve Nash in the first episode of the new version of the “Mind The Game” podcast:

“I can do things that affect the game still.”

Episode 1 is out now!

: https://t.co/QJeIaaaJ4F pic.twitter.com/Qpp4mn5JE0

— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) April 1, 2025

Nash was highly complimentary of James’ ability to quickly shift into being a catch-and-shoot, short roll type player as opposed to being the engine of the offense. That’s a role Nash never fully transitioned to and something he’s seen star players fail to do first-hand, especially when he was the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.

But he was most impressed with James’ ability to know that it was his responsibility to do that in order to make this iteration of the Lakers work. A superstar’s ability to recognize when he needs to defer directly correlates to how long they can extend their careers.

And if the Lakers want to win a championship this season, LeBron knows it starts with him choosing that transition and allowing Doncic — and even Reaves — to lead the way and get the bulk of the defensive attention.

LeBron James wants Lakers to play with urgency​

The Lakers amassed back-to-back major victories over the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets over their last two games. LeBron James and company put themselves in great position to avoid the Play-In Tournament and fight for seeding at the top of the Western Conference with wins over two other top conference opponents.

The even more impressive part is that they won both games in completely different ways. The win over the Grizzlies was an offensive battle that required 134 points from L.A. with all three of James, Doncic and Reaves scoring 25 or more. Against a gritty Rockets team on Monday, the Lakers defense held tough, limiting them to 98 points. Doncic led the way with 20 points.

LeBron spoke after the win, saying that the Lakers need to continue playing with urgency over the final seven games of the regular season.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-vid...s-to-sacrifice-for-luka-doncic-austin-reaves/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Credits Jaxson Hayes For Improvements

When the Los Angeles Lakers traded away Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic, it created a massive hole at the center position. Jaxson Hayes was the only healthy and available center on a standard NBA contract, and would be starting next to Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

The Lakers swiftly tried to remedy this by agreeing to terms with the Charlotte Hornets on a deal for Mark Williams, but that fell through due to a failed physical. This led Hayes back to the starting role with no other choice than for the Lakers to ride with him.

But playing alongside Doncic — and James in a greater capacity — has unlocked Hayes’ game to an unexpected degree. He is shooting an absurd 78.1% from the field in the 21 games he’s played since Luka’s debut and he’s shown himself to be exactly what L.A. needed in such a dire situation at the center position.

On his first episode of “Mind the Game” with Steve Nash, James spoke about Hayes’ contributions to the Lakers since taking over as the starting center:

“Well, first of all, I’ve gotta give a big shoutout and credit to Jaxson Hayes, man. Him stepping into that void, losing AD, it’s a lot. It’s a lot of scoring, a lot of protection defensively, a lot of rebounding, a lot of blocked shots. But I think Jaxson was just like ‘I can’t make up for that.’ And we didn’t ask him to make up for that. We needed Jaxson to be higher energy, be a force on offense, run the bigs, great screening, lob threat. But he’s just made great decisions. He’s been able to catch it in the pocket and stay on balance and either be able to dunk it home or find guys on the perimeter. Jaxson has been unbelievable in his minutes, and we’re going to need that from him. We know how it unlocks Luka as well, when it comes to pick-and-roll with a lob threat. Having those minutes with Jaxson is key.”

LeBron puts it best that the Lakers — and Hayes himself — are not expecting him to be a Davis replacement. Instead, he just needs to be exactly who he is, an athletic lob threat to help unlock Doncic’s best work.

It’s unclear if the Lakers are going to stick with Hayes in the offseason or invest resources in landing a higher caliber center. But in the meantime, Hayes has been better than advertised, and huge for the Lakers as they’ve worked towards becoming a championship contender.

JJ Redick speaks to Jaxson Hayes’ importance​

Ahead of Monday’s game against the Houston Rockets, JJ Redick spoke about the growth he’s seen from Jaxson Hayes since taking on a bigger role and his importance to the Lakers’ success.

“I think just the commitment to trying to get better every day,” Redick said. “Ralik (Wise) has done a great job with him throughout the season. He’s very receptive in film, in his PD work, he’s very receptive to our coaching in front of the group and film. I think that the growth mentality that he’s had this year has been really awesome and I’ve told him this a number of times over the last week or so, he’s so important for us if we’re wanting to win at the highest level. He’s gotta be elite. And that’s not to put pressure on him because he has guys that can take that pressure off him. But we need him on the floor. We need him to stay out of foul trouble, we need him to lay off the referees. He’s gotta be locked in, and he’s been that. He’s been awesome for us.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-credits-jaxson-hayes-for-improvements/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Dorian Finney-Smith Named Finalist For NBA Sportsmanship Award

The Los Angeles Lakers’ trade for veteran wing Dorian Finney-Smith in late-December began the roster transformation that turned this team into a legit championship contender. Finney-Smith was a very sought after player by many teams, and he has shown why in making a big impact on this Lakers team.

In addition to his play on the court, Finney-Smith has garnered nothing but praise from all of his teammates for his professionalism and overall demeanor, always being ready and willing to do whatever the Lakers need. And while a fierce competitor, he also never crosses the line and respects his opponents as well.

As such, it is a well-deserved nomination for Finney-Smith to be named one of six finalists for the NBA Sportsmanship Award, as the NBA announced on Wednesday:

The finalists for the 2024-25 NBA Sportsmanship Award.

The annual honor recognizes the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. Current NBA players will select the winner from these six finalists (one finalist from each NBA division). #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/wY3NUss1bF

— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2025

The other finalists announced are Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks, Shai Gilgious-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jarrett Allen of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jrue Holiday of the Boston Celtics and Franz Wagner of the Orlando Magic.

Every season, each team nominates one player to compete for the award with one player from each division being selected as a finalist. At the end of the regular season, players cast votes for the award, with eleven points given for each first-place vote, nine for second-place vote, seven points for third, and so on. The player with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award. Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley has won the award a record four times.

The Lakers couldn’t have picked a better player to represent them than Finney-Smith and in time it will be known if the rest of the league recognizes that as well. Either way, he is more than deserving of the award.

Lakers’ Dorian Finney-Smith talks about one of the best parts of his game​

Dorian Finney-Smith is coming off his best offensive performance of the season for the Lakers, knocking down six 3-pointers and finishing with 20 points in a win over the Houston Rockets. Afterwards, he was asked about his ability to adapt to any lineup and thrive, which he believes is one of the best parts of his game.

“I think that’s one of the great things of my game,” Finney-Smith said.” I can play with any team and I can gel well with anybody, especially when you got star power. Like I said, I’m just happy those guys were finding me tonight and I was rolling.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-dorian-finney-smith-named-finalist-for-nba-sportsmanship-award/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Host Warriors In First Matchup With New Stars That Also Has Major Playoff Implications

Thanks to the longstanding rivalry between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors have built up a bit of a distaste over the past couple of seasons. Recent meetings in the NBA Playoffs and Play-In Tournament have only intensified things and now the two teams are set for a massive meeting with major playoff implications.

The Lakers currently sit in the third spot in the Western Conference at 46-29 while the Warriors aren’t far behind at 44-31 in the fifth spot. With how tight the standings are, each game means that much more as a single loss can drop a team multiple spots in the standings and neither team wants to wind up in the Play-In.

The Lakers do hold the tiebreaker over the Warriors already, having beaten them in all three prior meetings, but this is the first in which the team’s new stars will take the court. The acquisition of Luka Doncic by the Lakers and Jimmy Butler by the Warriors have turned each team from a fringe playoff contender to squads with legit championship aspirations and each will be looking to send a message in this contest.

Both teams are coming off big wins over other playoff teams with Curry’s 52-point performance on Tuesday night wowing NBA fans yet again. Between Curry, James, Doncic and Butler, this game will have as much star power as any the league can offer, not to mention Austin Reaves and Draymond Green who are both crucial to their teams’ success.

But this game could very well be decided by the role players and who steps up when needed most. Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith each knocked down six 3-pointers in the Lakers’ win over the Houston Rockets while Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura have been crucial to this team’s success as well.

Meanwhile, Moses Moody has stepped up as of late for the Warriors, as has Brandin Podziemski, both of whom are important starters. And the Lakers can’t afford to forget about Buddy Hield and Quentin Post off the bench as both can catch fire from deep in an instant.

This is about as must-watch of a game as the NBA can present and if things go a certain way, could be a first-round playoff preview as well so expect another high-intensity back-and-forth contest as the Lakers and Warriors always seem to deliver.

Los Angeles Lakers (46-29) vs. Golden State Warriors (44-31)​

7:00 p.m. PT, Thursday, April 3, 2025
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
TV: TNT, TruTV, MAX
Radio: 710 AM ESPN LA

Projected Lakers Starting Lineup:

PG: Luka Doncic
SG: Austin Reaves
SF: Rui Hachimura
PF: LeBron James
C: Jaxson Hayes

Key Reserves: Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, Jordan Goodwin, Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht

Projected Warriors Starting Lineup:

PG: Stephen Curry
SG: Brandin Podziemski
SF: Moses Moody
PF: Jimmy Butler III
C: Draymond Green

Key Reserves: Buddy Hield, Quentin Post, Gui Santos, Kevon Looney

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-hos...ars-that-also-has-major-playoff-implications/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Update: Maxi Kleber Progresses To On-Court Activities

The Los Angeles Lakers announced forward Maxi Kleber has progressed to on-court activities after undergoing right foot surgery on Jan. 30. Kleber will continue his return-to-play process and further updates will be provided as appropriate.

Kleber is often an afterthought when reviewing the Luka Doncic blockbuster given that he was throw in the deal to make the trade legal and because he had just gotten hurt. When healthy, Kleber is a useful backup big man who can stretch the floor from beyond the arc.

Los Angeles has embraced a small-ball identity since Doncic came on board, and Kleber would fit in as another option along the perimeter for the three stars to spray the basketball out to. His familiarity with Doncic makes him an appealing rotational piece, though it remains to be seen when he’ll make his return to the floor.

The Lakers reportedly have some optimism that Kleber can return before the end of the regular season, though that window is quickly closing as there are only six regular season games left. Getting cleared without much practice time seems like a big hill for Kleber to overcome, though if his on-court activities go well it’s still possible.

As of now, the only true big man in the rotation is Jaxson Hayes, so Kleber could have an opportunity to play in specific matchups. However, head coach JJ Redick already seems confident in his current lineups that include LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith playing center.

Regardless, having Kleber available in some capacity would give the Lakers more lineup versatility and options, two things that teams need to get through the NBA Playoffs. As of now, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the overwhelming favorites to win the Western Conference, though the feeling around the league is that Los Angeles might have the highest ceiling of any team.

With a trio LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Doncic running the offense, opposing teams will have to pick their poison when it comes to defending them. Role players have feasted on wide-open looks from outside, so Kleber could find himself in the same position assuming he’s able to return soon rather than later.

JJ Redick calls Rui Hachimura the key to Lakers’ small-ball lineups​

JJ Redick has installed a more modern offensive system for the Los Angeles Lakers and the results have been great. Redick understands that the Lakers’ ceiling is when they go smaller and he called Rui Hachimura the key to those lineups.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-update-maxi-kleber-progresses-to-on-court-activities/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Feeling His Best Physically Since Return From Groin Injury

Since returning from a groin injury that forced him to miss seven games, LeBron James has struggled a bit offensively. The Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar had averaged just 18.7 points on just 43.4% shooting and 22.7% from 3-point range.

But facing off against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors seemed to spark James back into gear as he had his best overall performance since returning from injury. LeBron finished with 33 points, five rebounds and nine assists while shooting 10-of-15 from the field and 5-of-8 from deep, but it wasn’t enough as the Lakers fell to the Warriors by seven.

Groin injuries can be tricky and linger for some time, so LeBron needing a few games to get back to normal is understandable and the Lakers star admitted that this is the best he’s felt physically since returning to the court.

“That was the best I felt before the injury for sure,” James said after the game. “I just tried to press, get downhill, my rhythm, as far as my jump shot felt pretty good today, I was shooting from the free throw line extremely well, and I’m a bit late, but it’s probably the best physically I felt. So hopefully, I can build off of that.”

If the Lakers have any chance to make a run to the NBA Finals, they will need LeBron operating at his best. Even if he isn’t leading the team scoring wise, he does so many other things that unlocks the Lakers on both sides of the floor.

Getting back to normal from a physical standpoint is huge for LeBron and he played just under 40 minutes against the Warriors, which is a great sign as well. James operating at his highest level is paramount to the success of this Lakers team that still has some gelling to do, but now only have six games to do it before the playoffs start.

Lakers’ LeBron James discusses challenges facing the Warriors​

LeBron James and the Lakers could very well be seeing these same Warriors in the playoffs and if that is the case the Lakers will need to be better to take them down. It was a rough first half offensively that cost the Lakers and LeBron broke down the challenges of facing the Warriors.

“I mean, it’s always a challenge when you play Golden State,” he said. “It’s been like that for over a decade, probably since 2014 when they started to get it going. We know it’s always a challenge against them. We just gotta keep balance all game and just try to figure it out, which we did. Offensively, we were really good, especially in the second half. We had 69 points in the second half. That was not the reason we weren’t able to win.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...st-physically-since-return-from-groin-injury/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Dalton Knecht Focused On Being Aggressive & Himself When On Court

After not getting into the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Golden State Warriors, Dalton Knecht was back in the rotation on Friday and provided a spark for his team.

With the Lakers falling into an early deficit against the New Orleans Pelicans, Dalton Knecht came in and scored 10 quick points to get his team back on track. He finished with 12 points off the bench on 5-of-10 shooting in what ended up being an easy victory for L.A.

Having been in and out of the rotation though, Knecht spoke about his focus when he does get on the court.

“Mainly just when my name is called, go out there and be me,” he said. “Be ready to shoot and my teammates have my back every single time I step out on the court. They want me to be aggressive and that’s what I kind of do, so shoutout to all my vets.”

Knecht has the ability to rip off a bunch of quick points for the Lakers do to his shooting ability, and he knows it doesn’t take much for him to get hot.

“When the first one goes in,” Knecht said of when he could feel himself warming up. “I had the putback and then the 3 and Bron was looking for me the whole entire time, so Bron, Luka and AR make it really easy for you to get open shots and get yourself going.”

Shooting is a valuable trait in today’s NBA, especially when playing around ball-dominant stars like the Lakers have in Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Because of that, Knecht feels he is the perfect fit on this team and just wants to contribute in any way possible.

“I think I fit good,” the rookie said. “I’m a shooter and not only just that, I can go down and create my own shot and attack the rim and also play in the pick-and-roll with them. I think I just try to help them as much as I can.”

Dalton Knecht enjoys being fan favorite​

There was a huge applause when Dalton Knecht entered the game on Friday as his ability to get hot at any time has made him a favorite amongst Lakers fans. He spoke about how special that is and his desire to show out for the fans when he steps on the court.

“It’s real cool that I’m a fan favorite,” Knecht said. “So every time I step out on the court and hear them cheer, I try to go out and put on a show for them. I think that’s what all of us try to do, just go put on a show for the Lakers. They have a great fanbase.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...ed-on-being-aggressive-himself-when-on-court/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Austin Reaves & Luka Doncic Know Lakers Are In For Challenge Against Thunder

With five games remaining in the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers are getting ready for two games in a row on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who Luka Doncic faced last postseason.

Due to how close seeding is in the Western Conference, L.A. needs to win as many games as possible to finish out the regular season. But, going against Oklahoma City will not be easy and will serve as a measuring stick to show how serious the Lakers are as contenders.

At this point, the Thunder have the best point differential in NBA history, so Doncic knows it is going to be a big challenge.

“Definitely a big challenge,” he said. “They all know how to play. They’re first in the West for a reason. They’ve been playing amazing. They have a guy that is playing [at an] MVP level. The whole team is good. So, it’s gonna be a big, big challenge for us.”

Oklahoma City’s defense is in the upper echelon, being No. 1 for a good chunk of the year. With capable perimeter defenders, Doncic shared how he was able to find success in their postseason matchup last year that he can lean on going into these games.

“I just played through it,” Doncic said of the Thunder’s physicality. “It was a very physical series. We were all very tired after that series. But it was fun, definitely fun. OKC is a tough matchup, but those matchups are special. Like I said before, it’s going to be a big challenge for us, but also it’s these games that are fun to play.”

One positive to having a challenging schedule to close it out is L.A. is playing in playoff-like environments against West teams fighting for seeding. Austin Reaves had a similar sentiment as Doncic, knowing these next two games are a big time test for their team.

“It’s just, it’s a great test,” Reaves said. “You know, they’re obviously a really good team with probably the frontrunner for the MVP right now. So, the team plays really hard in their position, guards at a high level, and then on their end, they play with space. Like I said, Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander] does what he does, but it’s a good test for us to match up with the number one team in the west and see where we’re at right now and continue to try to prove that we’re a good team too.”

This past month has been a challenging one for the Lakers with inconsistent play, and now is a chance to turn the tide. Ideally, beating the Thunder once would bode well as L.A. ramps up for what they hope to be a long postseason run.

Luka Doncic encouraging Dorian Finney-Smith to shoot more​

Acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith was the first domino in turning the Lakers season around. Although he is known for his defense, Luka Doncic is encouraging Finney-Smith to shoot more when he is open.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/austin-reaves-luka-doncic-know-lakers-are-in-for-challenge-against-thunder/