News Lakers Team Notes

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Signing Drew Timme To Two-Way Contract & Waiving Christian Koloko

The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t done as well drafting at the top of the NBA Draft, but they’ve managed to find several gems either in the second round or in undrafted free agency.

Famous Lakers success stories include Austin Reaves, Alex Caruso and Ivica Zubac, though they can also claims wins with Max Christie, Kyle Kuzma, Larry Nance Jr. and Josh Hart. The scouting department, formerly led by Jesse Buss, deserves its credit for finding so many NBA-level players, but the organization still lacks young talent that they can confidently say is part of their long-term future.

In recent years, the Lakers have done well taking fliers on players through their G League affiliate the South Bay Lakers. Recently, Drew Timme earned G League Player of the Week in his first week with South Bay and that seemed to give the organization enough confidence to sign him to a two-way contract while waiving Christian Koloko to make space, via Shams Charania of ESPN:

The Los Angeles Lakers are signing center Drew Timme to a two-way NBA deal from their South Bay team, agents Deddrick Faison and Rich Gray tell ESPN. Timme played for the Nets to finish last season and then joined Lakers' G League, averaging 25.5 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists. pic.twitter.com/c3COTc8tl3

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 25, 2025

The Lakers are waiving center Christian Koloko to create roster space for Timme, sources said. https://t.co/X6LCmeXx4D

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 25, 2025

Waiving Koloko made the most sense as the young center failed to make a lasting impact with the Lakers despite several opportunities to do so over the last couple of seasons. At this juncture, Timme is a much more intriguing bet to be a contributor for the parent team because of his combination of size, skill and shooting.

Timme averaged 30 points, seven rebounds and 4.7 assists per game in his first week with South Bay and while he won’t be asked to produce like that for the Lakers, it speaks to his ability that he can dominate G League competition. Timme comes in more experienced than most two-way players as he spent the end of last season with the Brooklyn Nets and averaged 12.1 points and 7.2 rebounds in nine games.

As of now, head coach JJ Redick seems content with his center rotation of Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, but Timme could mix in on nights where the team is shorthanded, especially with Ayton recently suffering a knee contusion. It’s a low-risk, high-reward signing that has the potential to pay off long-term for L.A.

Because of when the Lakers are signing Timme, he will be eligible to suit up in 40 games for the Lakers and would need to be upgraded to a standard contract to play in the postseason.

Having LeBron James at practice was unbelievable experience for South Bay Lakers​

LeBron James was able to return to the Lakers lineup and part of his return-to-play process included a practice with the South Bay Lakers. South Bay head coach Zach Guthrie called it an unbelievable experience to have James practice with the G League affiliate and believes the group can learn a lot from him.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-signing-drew-timme-to-two-way-contract-waiving-christian-koloko/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Deandre Ayton Ruled Out Vs. Clippers

The Los Angeles Lakers are listing center Deandre Ayton as out for Tuesday’s Emirates NBA Cup game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Ayton left Sunday’s victory over the Utah Jazz in the second quarter with a right knee contusion and did not return.

Ayton has missed just one game so far this season and has provided everything the Lakers could have hoped for when they signed him this offseason. The big man is averaging 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 69.6% from the field and providing a physical presence defensively.

In his absence on Sunday, head coach JJ Redick turned to Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber, both of whom provided some strong minutes. In particular, Kleber garnered a ton of praise from his teammates for his strong performance in the fourth quarter with Austin Reaves saying he was one of the Lakers’ best players on the night while Luka Doncic called it a “10 out of 10” performance from the veteran.

While the Clippers have been struggling mightily this season having lost four of their last five and 10 of their last 12 games, they do still have one of the best and most physical centers in the league in former Laker Ivica Zubac. Not having Ayton to battle down low with him will put a lot of pressure on Hayes and Kleber, though both have stepped up when called upon.

Aside from Ayton, the rest of the Lakers’ injury report is clear as the team is finally healthy for the most part. LeBron James is back and working to build up his stamina while Gabe Vincent has returned from his sprained ankle.

The Lakers and Clippers are currently tied atop West Group B in the NBA Cup standings at 2-0, though the Lakers do hold the tiebreaker due to point differential. Should the Lakers win this game they will clinch Group B and be guaranteed a spot in the knockout stage as they would then hold head-to-head victories over both the Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies.

After winning the inaugural NBA Cup, the Lakers will be looking at reclaiming their title and could take a big step in that direction with a win on Tuesday night.

LeBron James not worried about Lakers’ 3-point shooting struggles​

Something that would certainly help the Lakers pick up a victory whether Deandre Ayton plays or not is an improvement in their 3-point shooting. The Lakers are one of the worst shooting teams from deep in the league, but LeBron James isn’t concerned with that right now, feeling things will ultimately average out.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-report-deandre-ayton-ruled-out-vs-clippers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Hopes Chris Paul Gets Happiness Out Of Final Season

Now in his 23rd NBA season and nearing 41 years old, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is the oldest active player in the NBA. And the second oldest player in the league is James’ good friend Chris Paul, who is also 40 years old and currently the backup point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Paul recently announced that this year, his 21st in the league, would be his final one as he will be retiring at the end of the season. This of course has led to many coming out and reflecting on what has been an outstanding career that will see Paul inducted into the Hall of Fame once he is eligible.

Paul surely has some goals and ideas in mind for what he wants out of this final year, but LeBron does too. And most of all, the Lakers’ superstar simply wants Paul to get as much joy and happiness as he can out of this final run, as seen on Spectrum SportsNet:

“Happiness. Just be as happy as he possibly can. Don’t wanna look back when you’re done and be like ‘I was angry’ or ‘I didn’t take full advantage of’ your last year and things of that nature. I know he’s happy being back in L.A. with his family, seeing little CP, seeing his daughter, seeing what they’re doing I know that’s pretty special to him so I hope he can just get joy out of this final year. Like you said, we’ve known each other forever so, hell of a player, hell of a career. I could go on and on and on, but it’s awesome. He has nothing to hang his head about, he’s done pretty much everything that this league had to offer. Yeah, I just hope he just takes it all in. This is his last hoorah so we’ll never get this moment again once you’re done to be able to go out and be in an arena.”

As James noted, you never want to look back and wish you had done things differently or didn’t enjoy everything as much as you could have. This will be the last time Paul will be able to experience these things and he should really embrace these moments.

Of course, many are wondering when that final season is coming for LeBron and whether this year with the Lakers could be his last. But he has yet to reveal his intentions and with the level he continues to perform at, that final season could still be a couple years down the line.

Lakers coach JJ Redick discusses evolution of relationship with Chris Paul​

Another member of the Lakers who has a close relationship with Chris Paul is head coach JJ Redick, who was a teammate of his with the Clippers for many years. But Redick revealed the two actually hated each other when Redick first entered the league, and broke down the evolution of their relationship that now has him considering the point guard as family.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...hris-paul-gets-happiness-out-of-final-season/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Highlights: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves & LeBron James Dominate Clippers

The Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Clippers have fought for territory in the city for well over a decade now, and while the rivalry has died down a bit it’s still theater whenever the two teams meet.

The Lakers hosted the Clippers for an Emirates NBA Cup group play game on Tuesday night, but the implications for both teams were huge. A win for the Lakers would clinch the group, while a Clippers win would have given them a shot to clinch it for themselves. Both teams entered the primetime matchup 2-0 in group play, so the Lakers knew they’d have a fight on their hands despite the Clippers’ paltry regular season record.

As is the case in almost every game between the two L.A. squads, neither side was able to pull away. Defense was almost non-existent as the Lakers and Clippers scored almost at will so the game naturally came down to the fourth quarter.

Fortunately for the purple and gold, the “Big 3” showed up in crunch time and the Lakers went on to win 135-118. The Lakers won West Group B and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup with the victory.

Luka Doncic was riled up from the start as he was seen barking at the Clippers bench. The chirping ignited Doncic from the get go as he caught fire from the beyond the arc. While the Clippers managed to build a lead, Doncic made sure the Lakers stayed within striking distance by hitting shot after shot.

The Clippers found ways to slow down Doncic in the second half, though the latter still found ways to affect the game as a playmaker. Overall, the Clippers simply had no answer for Doncic who turned in a massive stat line of 43 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds.

Austin Reaves sat back and watched Doncic score in the first half, but he came alive in the fourth quarter with his co-star on the bench. Like Doncic, Reaves seemed to get more into the game after having calls go against him and he made the Clippers pay with several baskets in a row.

Reaves was the perfect complementary scorer to Doncic as he poured in 31 points to go along with nine rebounds and three assists.

LeBron James rounded out the star trio’s performance with a strong showing of his own. James continues to show improvements physically as he got up and down the floor well, making plays on both ends.

James pitched in with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers will host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday in their final Emirates NBA Cup group play game before seeing the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-highlights-luka-doncic-austin-reaves-lebron-james-dominate-clippers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Willing To Pay Jaxson Hayes’ Fine For Having His Back Against Clippers

Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to another impressive win, this time against the L.A. Clippers.

The Lakers beat the Clippers 135-118 to win West Group B and advance to the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals, with Doncic recording a near-triple-double of 43 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds. It was a brilliant offensive performance from Doncic, who scored 32 points in the first half before taking more of a playmaking role in the second half.

While Doncic added another strong win to his budding MVP case, the game still had its contentious moments. With the Lakers well ahead, Kris Dunn shoved Doncic, which the latter took exception to. Doncic confronted Dunn and had words for him before the Clippers guard shoved the basketball at the Lakers star.

Jaxson Hayes retaliated by shoving Dunn, which Doncic later said he appreciated and even offered to cover his teammate’s fine.

“Of course, I appreciate it,” Doncic said when asked if he’ll pay the fine. “I told him right away, thanks for having my back. That says a lot about him. That says a lot about this team. So, everybody got each other’s back.”

Luka went on to explain what happened on the play and why he took exception with Dunn.

“Well, I was waiting for the rebound. I got a cheap shot in my back. So, I’m not going to just stand. I ain’t afraid of nobody. I’m just going to stand and let it go,” Doncic added.

“The ref was right there. I don’t understand how we could have caught a foul on that one. But, you know, that’s what the game is about. Sometimes it’s going to get physical. There’s a lot of trash talking. I live for that, so I love it.”

Dunn was ejected from the game while Hayes was assessed just one technical foul, allowing the Lakers to build on their lead and never look back. Dunn was one of the few two-way bright spots on the Clippers, so his absence to close the fourth quarter was definitely felt.

Hayes and Doncic have developed a close relationship in the past calendar year, and it was good to see Hayes stick up for the Lakers star. Doncic had a real gripe with Dunn since the Clippers guard shoved him first, but the officials didn’t call a foul.

It was impressive that Luka did try to initiate some sort of altercation first given the situation, but regardless Hayes did the right thing defending his teammate. Hayes has shown he isn’t afraid to mix it up when needed, playing the enforcer role that every team needs.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is how connected this Lakers group seems to already be. The players have openly talked about how tight-knit the locker room is, so Hayes defending Doncic seems to support that notion.

That level of chemistry and camaraderie is a key ingredient in winning teams, so it’ll be exciting to see how many more wins the Lakers can stack up.

Jaxson Hayes explains why he wants to play with Luka Doncic for Slovenia​

Jaxson Hayes and Luka Doncic have gotten so close that the big man wants to team up for Slovenia. Hayes explained he wants to play for Team USA, but because they don’t do open tryouts he’ll do whatever it takes to play on the national stage.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...es-fine-for-having-his-back-against-clippers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Rob Pelinka Encouraged By Lakers’ Depth So Far This Season

Some felt the Los Angeles Lakers needed to make big moves in the offseason in order to become a true contender this year. However, Rob Pelinka and the front office didn’t do so, instead opting to bring in some role players whom they felt would make an impact and improve this team on the fringes.

Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia were the team’s free agent additions and so far, the results have been encouraging for the Lakers as they have gotten off to a 13-4 start and are tied for the second-best record in the Western Conference.

In speaking on the additions the Lakers made this summer, Pelinka discussed how important it was to add depth to the roster, and feels the results have been encouraging so far this season, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“We talked a lot about how we wanted to get younger with the roster and then more depth to your point, that was something we really focused on in July. If you look around the league at the successful teams, they’re young. Everyone’s playing fast, everyone’s playing physical. When we went out and added Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia and brought in Marcus Smart we really felt like that would fill out our depth and to see that happening in real time, proof of concept has been encouraging.”

Perhaps more impressive is that the Lakers have played so well despite missing star players LeBron James and Luka Doncic for many games. And Pelinka feels that stretch allowed for some players to really gain a confidence boost:

“I think we had a stretch of games without Luka and LeBron and for guys like Jake and Austin Reaves to step up, it kinda created a vibe and energy around our team where it was like different guy, different night. And early on some guys you didn’t think would have confidence early in the season emerged and got that. So in some sense the absence of a player in as big a magnitude as LeBron maybe helped some of those other guys get some early season confidence and we’re seeing that play out as well.”

The Lakers have gotten big contributions in different games from players like Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber and Nick Smith Jr. when called upon and that says a lot about the depth of this team. Pelinka has garnered criticism in the past, but he has done an excellent job in putting this roster together and his moves are paying off.

LeBron James believes defense will decide how great Lakers can be this year​

Whether or not the Lakers can have a real playoff run as currently constructed is unclear. But LeBron James believes that it will be the defense that decides just how great this team can be.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/rob-pelinka-encouraged-by-lakers-depth-so-far-this-season/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Austin Reaves Having Fun Playing Unselfish Basketball With Luka Doncic & LeBron James

Austin Reaves has steadily risen up the NBA ranks and should now be considered a star on a Los Angeles Lakers team that also features Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

Reaves had already taken a leap the season prior, but the 2025-26 season represents his best campaign yet as he’s been one of the best offensive players in the league by almost every metric.

The budding star guard put on a show in the Lakers’ recent win against the L.A. Clippers, dropping 31 points with most of it coming in the fourth quarter.

Doncic and James also had huge scoring nights and Reaves attributed all of their success to playing basketball the correct way.

“We just played the right way, took open shots, just stuck to schemes and got the ball where we wanted to get it and made shots,” Reaves said.

He added that the team hasn’t done anything differently since James rejoined, but are simply making the right reads on the floor.

“No, I think you just pass to the open person,” Reaves said. “Especially with LeBron and Luka, they demand such a double team a lot of the game and that means someone is gonna be open and we can play 4-on-3 basketball. I think it’s just pass it to the open person and play basketball.”

Against the Clippers, the Lakers knocked down 13 of their 29 3-point attempts and Reaves acknowledged it felt good for him and the team to finally see them go down.

“Yeah, I think so. I think that’s the third time we’ve shot over 40% from 3. It feels good.”

Reaves also emphasized how the collective unselfishness from the stars makes it a fun environment for the Lakers to play in.

“I feel great,” he said. “Me and Bron have a great friendship, me and Luka deal with each other on the court. It’s fun though. We’ve been talking about it, we’ve got three guys that can make plays and are unselfish at the same time… If you’re in the right spot, everybody should eat off that so it’s really fun.”

By the looks of it, it does feel like the Lakers’ “Big 3” is starting to gel on the floor and the role players are fitting in right behind them. There’s still a lot of regular season left to go, but the purple and gold should be taken more seriously as a contender.

JJ Redick challenging Austin Reaves to step up as a leader​

Head coach JJ Redick has done a great job of getting the most out of Austin Reaves and he’s now challenging his new star guard to step up as a leader despite LeBron James and Luka Doncoc both being on the team.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...ish-basketball-with-luka-doncic-lebron-james/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: JJ Redick Praises Jaxson Hayes’ Growth As Playmaker

With how well Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic has been playing to start the season, most teams eventually come to the same conclusion and that’s that they need to blitz him on pick-and-rolls to get the ball out of his hands.

When that happens, it creates a 4-on-3 advantage for the Lakers with the screener often needing to playmake out of the short roll. That is a tough skill to develop for most centers, but Jaxson Hayes, in particular, has made big strides in that regard.

With Deandre Ayton out of the lineup, Hayes got the start against the L.A. Clippers on Tuesday night and turned in one of his best performances of the season with eight points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block.

After the dominant victory for the Lakers, head coach JJ Redick gave praise to Hayes for the growth he has shown as a playmaker.

“I thought that group to start the fourth quarter and then when Jaxson [Hayes] was out there with Luka, that execution offensively was high level,” Redick said. “Jaxson made multiple pocket decisions against the blitz. [He made] every type of read you can make, rim, corner, corner cut and slot. He threw the lob to Rui [Hachimura]. So, it just a high-level game from him.”

Hayes also discussed Doncic getting blitzed and what he is trying to accomplish when that happens.

“I just try to do my job,” he said. “When they’re in a drop I try to roll as quick as possible and get out of there and when they start blitzing Luka, I know I gotta short roll and just playmake out of there because I know most likely teams are gonna be pulling in because they don’t want me to get a free dunk so I just gotta make my reads from there and then if they’re not pulling in then I got a free dunk. If not, kick out for a 3 or a lob.”

With Ayton and Hayes, the Lakers have two big men that can not only score inside, but can also create shots for others, making the team’s offense awfully difficult to stop when everything is going right.

Luka Doncic willing to pay Lakers teammate Jaxson Hayes’ fine​

Luka Doncic got in a bit of an altercation with Kris Dunn late in the Lakers’ win over the Clippers and Jaxson Hayes stepped in and shoved Dunn to have his teammate’s back. Doncic appreciated that and even offered to pay Hayes’ fine after he was given a technical foul.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-jj-redick-praises-jaxson-hayes-growth-as-playmaker/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Mavericks Vs. Lakers Injury Report: Anthony Davis & Deandre Ayton Return, Marcus Smart Ruled Out

The Los Angeles Lakers announced that Deandre Ayton (right knee contusion) will return to action on Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks after a one-game absence. Marcus Smart (back spasms) has been ruled out after originally being listed as questionable.

On the Dallas side of things, Anthony Davis returns to the lineup after missing the last 14 games with a calf injury. This will be Davis’ first time playing against the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena since being traded for Luka Doncic last February and he is expected to play between 24 and 27 minutes, according to Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.

The Mavericks have a back-to-back against the Lakers and L.A. Clippers on Friday and Saturday, respectively, but Davis made it clear that he preferred to return against his former team.

It remains to be seen how much Davis will be able to play after missing 14 games, but the Lakers having Ayton back in the lineup to help slow him down will be a big boost. In 15 games for the Lakers this season, Ayton has averaged 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 69.6% from the field.

Without Smart in the lineup, others like Gabe Vincent, Jake LaRavia and perhaps Dalton Knecht will need to step up off the Lakers’ bench.

L.A. is going for its sixth straight win and can clinch home-court advantage in the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals with a victory over the Mavericks.

LeBron James pleased with Lakers’ additions of Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia​

The Lakers are used to dealing with players going in and out of the lineup at this point and a big reason for that has been their depth. They added Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia this past offseason, and LeBron James was complimentary of what all three have brought to the team.

“Listen, we could sit here and talk about how unbelievable Luka and AR have been so far. It has not surprised me. Those guys are just super, ultra talented. What they bring to the game, we already know. But what I love is what DA and Jake and Marcus have brought to the team. Another level of toughness, another level of playmaking. The other night, Marcus having seven steals in a game, DA been dominant on the glass and being very efficient offensively and also before last night I think he was top 10 in defensive percentages contested at the rim. And Jake, who is number 12 is what they were saying I think in the Minnesota game, the crowd was like who is number 12 and Ant was like I don’t know. Guys know him now. I’m just proud of what the team has been doing and being able to watch from a far. It’s great, I think we have something really good going. It’s a long season obviously, we want to continue to play good basketball. That’s most important. But I like the pieces that we added.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/mavericks-...-deandre-ayton-return-marcus-smart-ruled-out/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Highlights: Austin Reaves & Luka Doncic Erupt Against Mavericks

The Los Angeles Lakers went into the final night of NBA Emirates Cup group play without much pressure as they had already clinched West Group B after their win against the L.A. Clippers.

However, the Lakers’ final group play game was far from the usual as they hosted the Dallas Mavericks. Los Angeles and Dallas will forever be linked after the blockbuster trade that included Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis. This was the first time Davis played his former team back in Los Angeles, making it an emotional affair for all the parties involved.

The Mavericks have largely struggled this season due to injuries and a lack of offensive talent, but they remain a stingy team defensively. While the Lakers were considered major favorites, they had to work on both ends for all four quarters.

Dallas didn’t give up an inch despite the talent disparity, but L.A. ultimately ended up winning 129-119. The Lakers went undefeated in group play and will now host the San Antonio Spurs in the quarterfinals of the knockout round.

Austin Reaves has taken the leap that the purple and gold were hoping for after his strong close to the 2024-25 season. Dallas was intent on ensuring that Luka Doncic didn’t get off to a hot start as they blitzed and doubled him, opening up more room for Reaves to operate in the half court.

Reaves was at his best driving with the basketball in his hands, but the guard also took advantage of all the open looks he got because of the defensive attention Doncic got. Reaves made the Mavericks pay every time they rotated away from him, knocking down 3-pointer after 3-pointer to keep the Lakers close.

Reaves continued his hot scoring in the fourth quarter as well, coming up with big buckets when the team needed it. Reaves led all scorers with 38 points but he also added eight rebounds and three assists on an efficient 12-of-15 shooting.

It took a little bit for Doncic to get going offensively, but he eventually found his groove picking on mismatches. Doncic used his size and handle to get to his spots, punishing Dallas for every mistake.

Doncic was no slouch compared to Reaves as he had 35 points including a perfect 11-of-11 showing from the free throw line. He also recorded 11 assists and four rebounds.

Deandre Ayton returned to the lineup and was efficient, scoring 17 points on eight-of-nine shooting from the field.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday before they see the Phoenix Suns the next night on Monday in a back-to-back set at home.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-highlights-austin-reaves-luka-doncic-erupt-against-mavericks/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Round Bracket Set As Lakers Host Spurs In Quarterfinals

The Los Angeles Lakers finished group play of the Emirates NBA Cup on a high note, beating the Dallas Mavericks 129-119.

The Lakers had already clinched West Group B with their win against the L.A. Clippers earlier in the week, but their win against the Mavericks locked them into the No. 2 seed of the West bracket of the Knockout Rounds. Both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Lakers finished with perfect 4-0 records, but the former snagged the No. 1 seed by virtue of their +75 point differential.

With group play over, the knockout round is scheduled to start in December. The Thunder will host the Phoenix Suns, who claimed the Wild Card spot, while the Lakers will host the San Antonio Spurs. Both the Suns and Spurs finished with 3-1 records and will be tough outs.

In the East bracket, the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors won their respective groups with perfect 4-0 records, while the New York Knicks and Miami Heat will join them in the next round. The Magic earned the No. 1 seed and will host the Heat while the Raptors enter as the No. 2 seed and will host the Knicks.

For Los Angeles, they might catch a break hosting San Antonio as Victory Wembanyama has been out of the lineup due to a calf injury. While the Spurs have managed well enough in his absence, the Lakers would figure to be favored if the superstar big man is unable to return. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City will be massive favorites to win out against Phoenix due to their collective star power and defense.

In the East, Orlando has been surging though Miami shouldn’t be counted out after Tyler Herro returned. Lastly, Toronto’s been the surprise of the Eastern Conference and has a good chance of advancing despite New York’s experience.

The Emirates NBA Cup should be considered a success as teams have taken a liking to the extra competition. The prize money for each player also doesn’t hurt, but the biggest takeaway is that fans are resonating with the event and it should be exciting to see all eight teams face off once the knockout rounds begin.

The quarterfinals will be played in home arenas on Dec. 9 and 10 before the tournament shifts to Las Vegas for the semifinals and finals on Dec. 13 and 15, respectively. Considering the Lakers’ NBA Cup court was slippery and they didn’t use it on Friday against the Mavericks, it will be interesting to see if it’s ready to go by Dec. 10 or if they again use their normal court.

Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Round bracket​

Eastern Conference Bracket​

(4) Miami Heat vs. (1) Orlando Magic, Tuesday Dec. 9, 3 p.m. PT
(3) New York Knicks vs. (2) Toronto Raptors, Tuesday Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m. PT

Western Conference Bracket​

(4) Phoenix Suns vs. (1) Oklahoma City Thunder, Wednesday Dec. 10, 4:30 p.m. PT
(3) San Antonio Spurs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m. PT

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/emirates-n...et-set-as-lakers-host-spurs-in-quarterfinals/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic & LeBron James Commend Deandre Ayton

There were a lot of question marks surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers going into this season with one of the being the center position after adding Deandre Ayton.

After securing a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers, Ayton came to Los Angeles with hopes of playing alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James to rehabilitate his career. But as a center who likes his short rolls and pocket passes, those ball-handlers have to get reps to learn where Ayton wants to be successful.

Now that everyone is healthy for the most part, on-court chemistry is clearly starting to pick up and the starting big man is getting easy buckets. Ayton missed one game with a knee contusion and came back with 17 points and eight rebounds on 8-for-9 from the field in Friday night’s win over the Dallas Mavericks.

It was only one game, but the Lakers missed what the former Arizona Wildcat brought to their offense. Doncic spoke about how meaningful Ayton is for the team during this early part of the regular season.

“He’s been amazing for us the whole season,” Doncic said. “Since the start until now, he’s been amazing. He will keep doing what he does. Sometimes I need to get him more looks. But the way he plays on both ends of the floor has been amazing. I really appreciate him.”

In just four games into his 23rd season, James is also noticing what the former No. 1 pick brings to the table, along with developing pick-and-roll chemistry.

“Everything that we ask him to do, he does it,” James said. “Then it’s our responsibility to give him the ball when he is open. It’s our responsibility to attract the eyes off of him, for him to get good looks. He’s making them all count. It was a big force for us. He sets pretty much 80 percent of our pick-and-roll. Jax [Jaxson Hayes] sets a lot. I’ll sprinkle in a little bit here and there, but he’s a big-time player for us offensively and defensively. [He’s] anchoring our defense with the communication, things of that nature. In a pick-and-roll heavy league, it’s great to have that safety net when we’re doubled or whatever the case may be to find him.”

Up to this point, Ayton has been a great addition to an already explosive Lakers offense. A lot was made about his character, but he appears bought into what head coach JJ Redick is selling.

Hopefully, this buy-in remains for the rest of the season because the ceiling for L.A. can be extremely high with him playing at this level.

Deandre Ayton marvels at Austin Reaves’ scoring ability​

Deandre Ayton has not played with three gifted scorers like this in his career and it makes his life as a center easier. But Austin Reaves’ emergence as a scorer continues to impress and even Ayton marveled about how easily he can score the basketball.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-lebron-james-commend-deandre-ayton/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: LeBron James & Marcus Smart Out Vs. Pelicans

The Los Angeles Lakers announced that LeBron James (left foot injury management) has been ruled out of Sunday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Marcus Smart (back spasms) is also listed as out and will miss his second straight game.

The Lakers’ game against the Pelicans on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena is the first night of a back-to-back with the Phoenix Suns coming to town on Monday. With that, they are being cautious with both James and Smart, likely hoping both will be able to suit up against the Suns.

As James nears his 41st birthday, the organization is clearly taking a cautious approach in his 23rd season to ensure he stays healthy and fresh for the playoffs. LeBron missed the first 14 games of the year due to sciatica on his right side and will now miss his 15th game. Considering he is unlikely to play in 65 regular season games this season, James will not qualify for any of the end-of-year awards.

The focus for him and the Lakers is on winning a championship though, and they have won all four games he has suited up to this point.

Smart has also made a positive impact on the Lakers this season, particularly on the defensive end of the court. He is also a veteran that they want to manage though, so they will not push him to play through back spasms to avoid it becoming a more serious issue.

The Lakers go into Sunday night’s game winners of six straight and with a 14-4 record overall. They have been able to overcome injuries and rack up wins all year, so the hope is that they will be able to keep that going against a Pelicans team that comes in struggling, losing 11 of their last 12.

Lakers had already planned to find rest for LeBron James​

LeBron James sitting out in the first night of a back-to-back shouldn’t come as a surprise as Lakers head coach JJ Redick had previously discussed the team’s plan to find him rest throughout the season.

“Yeah, we’ll do what we did last year, which is daily communication with him, with Mike (Mancias),” Redick said. “We’re gonna have to, I used the word uncharted territory a few times in the preseason, we’re gonna have to just manage this as best as we can given there’s no precedent for it.

“He knows his body better than anyone, Mike obviously probably No. 2 there. So the level of communication we had last year and throughout this 6-7 week period has been really good so I don’t expect it to change there. We’ll figure out ways to get him rest when he needs rest.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-report-lebron-james-out-marcus-smart-doubtful-vs-pelicans/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Expected To Build Up & Eventually Play In Back-To-Backs

LeBron James’ return to the Los Angeles Lakers has helped transform the offense from great to elite.

While James has ceded usage and control to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, he’s juiced up the Lakers’ transition attack both as a playmaker and finisher. Defensively, James serves as a backline communicator who can still diagnose plays and create havoc when able to.

As the oldest player in the league, James has to take extra care of his body in order to make it through the rigors of the regular season. With that in mind, the Lakers ruled out James due to foot injury management against the New Orleans Pelicans as it was the first game of a back-to-back.

Head coach JJ Redick confirmed that the injury is something James is managing but is not of long-term concern.

“It is an injury he’s had in the past, it’s something that we’ve had to manage in the past,” Redick said. “Given the back-to-back and the fact that he’s basically just coming off his training camp, this has been his training camp the last 10 days or so, so just being cautious.”

Redick also acknowledged that the team and James are aiming to play back-to-backs at some point this season once he gets fully ramped up.

“We’re gonna build him up hopefully to be able to play in back-to-backs, that’s the goal,” Redick said. “But you are correct, every back-to-back is a case by case basis. That’s just the reality of the NBA right now. But we want him to be able to play in back-to-backs and so does he, so we’re gonna work towards that.”

The NBA has seen an uptick to injuries to their stars, so Redick and the training staff have every reason to bring James along slowly in Year 23. Although James has looked physically fine since coming back, re-injury is always a risk and Los Angeles needs to stay disciplined as it pertains to his workload.

Resting James against weaker teams like the Pelicans makes sense and they should continue to take advantage of lighter stretches in the schedule. With Los Angeles comfortably winning games with Doncic and Reaves leading the way, James has no reason to feel rushed as he ramps up.

LeBron James focused on winning regardless of role​

For the first time in LeBron James’ career, he doesn’t need to be the best player on his team to win games. While some wondered whether or not LeBron would be comfortable taking a back seat, he emphasized that he’s focused on winning games regardless of what his role is.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...to-build-up-eventually-play-in-back-to-backs/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Named Western Conference Player Of The Week

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic has been named Western Conference Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 24-30, the NBA announced. Eastern Conference honors went to Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks

Doncic averaged 37.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 10.3 assists in three games last week, leading the Lakers to a 3-0 week with wins over the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks to close out group play in the Emirates NBA Cup, along with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. The Lakers guard also shot 48.5% from the field, 45.4% from 3-point range and 86.1% from the free throw line.

Against the Clippers, Doncic was just one rebound shy of a triple-double as he dropped 43 points, nine rebounds and 13 assists in a 17-point win. He followed that up with 35 points and 11 assists against his former team the Mavericks before finishing up the week with 34 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in the 12-point win over the Pelicans.

This continues what has been an absolutely excellent start to the season for Luka as he currently leads the NBA in scoring and ranks fourth in assists.

He has also made history throughout the this early part of the season as he was the first Lakers player ever to start the season with back-to-back 40-point games. He has also already moved into the top 10 in Lakers history in 40-point games and now ranks fourth among active players in career 40-point double-doubles with 39.

Additionally, he and Austin Reaves also became just the fourth duo in NBA history to each record at least 30 points in three consecutive games, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in 2023, Corey Maggette and Monta Ellis in 2010, and George Gervin and Mike Mitchell in 1984.

This is the first time this season that Doncic has taken home the award and the 15th time in his career he has done so. The last four Western Conference Player of the Week honors have been split between Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs winning in the first week of the season.

Doncic will look to repeat the award in the upcoming week as the Lakers play four games, starting with the Phoenix Suns at home on Monday night.

Austin Reaves explains why backcourt fit with Luka Doncic on Lakers has worked​

Luka Doncic is the star of this Lakers team, but Austin Reaves hasn’t been far behind him with his level of play this season. The two have been the best offensive backcourt in the NBA this season and Reaves explained why he and Doncic have fit so well together.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-named-western-conference-player-of-the-week/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: JJ Redick Explains Why Jarred Vanderbilt Has Been Out Of Rotation

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt enjoyed the first healthy offseason he’s had in years, setting him up to be an important part of head coach JJ Redick’s rotation for the 2025-26 season.

Redick expressed his confidence in Vanderbilt, saying he could be an impactful two-way player for the Lakers.

While Vanderbilt has flashed his usual energy and hustle this season, he’s fallen out of the rotation since LeBron James returned to the lineup.

Redick detailed why Vanderbilt’s been benched and how he’s been able to handle it.

“He’s been good. He’s been a pro, he’s been great in the most recent stay-ready that we had this week. He was great. He’s been a great teammate, so no surprise there,” Redick said before Monday’s game against the Phoenix Suns. “I communicated to him before LeBron came back that there were certain things that he needed to be able to do consistently to play before LeBron came back, after LeBron came back, and that there was potentially gonna be a numbers crunch because we probably were gonna play a nine-man rotation and that was just the reality.

“Having said that, it doesn’t mean that he’s not gonna be back in the rotation at some point, whether we’re healthy or whether we’re missing a couple guys. When you’re winning games, it’s hard to re-do the rotation mid-winning streak. So we’re looking at everything and there were some lineup combinations when we were injured that we had to go away from and he was I guess caught up as a sort of innocent bystander in some ways with that. But I certainly have empathy for him and it’s not an easy situation to be in as a coach and certainly not a fun situation for him to be in as a player.”

Vanderbilt’s defense and knack for making winning plays is useful, but he’s been struggling offensively. Teams have been happy to pack the paint and dare Los Angeles to shoot when Vanderbilt’s on the floor, leaving Redick no choice but to use other options.

However, with how many players have already struggled to stay healthy there’s a good shot Vanderbilt cracks the rotation again. Redick and the Lakers will need Vanderbilt at some point, so it’s important he stays ready until his number is called.

Jarred Vanderbilt discusses controllable things Lakers can fix going forward​

In the Lakers’ loss, a lot of their struggles have been self-inflicted. Jarred Vanderbilt noted that Los Angeles needs to be better at executing the game plan, sound advice that could be applied to their recent loss to the Suns.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-new...y-jarred-vanderbilt-has-been-out-of-rotation/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic Takes Responsibility For Turnovers Against Suns

Luka Doncic remains in contention for MVP as he’s served as the engine to the Los Angeles Lakers success to begin the 2025-26 season.

Doncic has been amazing for the Lakers, scoring at will and making passes that make even his own teammates shake their heads. Doncic recently led Los Angeles to a seven-game winning streak, though that was broken on the second night of a back-to-back set.

The Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns 125-108, snapping their win streak but importantly showing the league that there are still several things that they need to fix. Defensively, Los Angeles had no answer for a Phoenix team that lived in the paint and on open 3-pointers.

However, the Suns also turned the Lakers over 22 times with nine of them coming from Doncic. After the loss, Doncic took responsibility for his carelessness with the basketball.

“Yeah, that was my fault,” he said. “No way, I can have nine turnovers in a game. So, in that second quarter, instead of just getting the shots, instead of shooting the ball, I was trying to get involved. But there’s no way I should have nine turnovers.”

Doncic also praised Phoenix for mucking up the game and sticking to their defensive game plan.

“I feel like definitely it was different with defense than other teams and [they were] kind of trying to let me go score instead of creating for others. So, it was kind of confusing. But like I said, you just can’t have that [many turnovers],” Doncic said.

It’s normal for teams to struggle on the second night of a back-to-back, but Phoenix made L.A. look even worse with their ball pressure and constant effort on rotations. There are numerous times where a passing lane looked open for a second before a Suns defender was there to either deflect or steal the pass.

Doncic was uncharacteristically sloppy with the basketball as he tried to force passes that weren’t there or simply had the ball stripped from him. Phoenix makes their defensive living playing physically, and it seemed like it threw Doncic off for stretches.

The Lakers’ 22 turnovers resulted in 32 points for the Suns, clearly showing that it was the difference in the game. Los Angeles has gotten away with some bad habits playing against lower-level competition, but Phoenix exposed them whenever they were too loose with the basketball and Doncic knows they need to fix these issues.

“First of all, take care of the ball, obviously. Then just be more physical,” he said. “We had to make a lot of shots too, so we’ve got to welcome that too. So, take care of the ball on the offensive end and be more physical on the defensive end.”

It’s only one game and given the circumstances some of it is understandable, but Doncic and the Lakers need to be far sharper if they hope to beat some of the good teams coming up on their schedule.

Austin Reaves explains how backcourt fit with Luka Doncic has been seamless​

Besides Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves is also having a strong year. The two have been the league’s leading scoring duo and Reaves explained how his fit next to next to Doncic has been seamless.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-takes-responsibility-for-turnovers-against-suns/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Attributes Foot Injury To Old Age

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James missed the start of the regular season for the first time in his career due to a sciatica issue he first started to experience in the offseason.

Playing in a historic Year 23 as the oldest player in the NBA, James is single-handedly redefining how long a player can feasibly play in the league. There have been numerous players who have come and gone during James’ career, yet the Lakers star continues to play a large part in his team’s success.

However, as James has gotten older he’s been forced to manage different types of injuries and ailments that haven’t popped up before. For example, James was held out of the Lakers game against the New Orleans Pelicans for injury management purposes.

The team said James is dealing with a foot issue that he’s been dealing with previously and the star acknowledged it’s simply a by-product of getting older.

“It’s called old. You get it, you understand,” James said to a group of reporters. “You just wake up with shit that you didn’t have before, you know?”

LeBron’s comment was largely tongue in cheek, though there’s truth to it as he likely wakes up with aches and pains despite his best efforts to keep his body fresh. James is notorious for staying in shape and taking care of himself physically, but even he is starting to see himself decline as he continues to tack on the minutes and miles.

This year’s roster offers LeBron at least some reprieve as the Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are more than capable of handling the offensive load. The guard duo was able to hold down the fort in James’ absence, and the organization can afford to give the 40-year-old rest days throughout the regular season.

Head coach JJ Redick revealed that the plan is for James to play in back-to-backs at some point this season, but the team will take a cautious approach given his age and injury history. The best version of the Lakers includes a healthy LeBron, so keeping him upright and fresh will be key to competing in a tough Western Conference.

LeBron James believes defense will decide how great Lakers can be​

With LeBron James back in the lineup, the Lakers have been one of the best offenses in the league. While scoring has been easy for Los Angeles, James believes that the team’s defense will decide how great the purple and gold can be.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-attributes-foot-injury-to-old-age/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Luka Doncic & Marcus Smart Out Vs. Raptors

The Los Angeles Lakers are listing Luka Doncic (personal) and Marcus Smart (lower back injury management) as out for the team’s contest against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night.

It remains to be seen how long Doncic will be out, but multiple reports have indicated he traveled back to Slovenia for the birth of his second child. In the meantime, Austin Reaves and LeBron James will need to pick up the slack in his absence.

For Smart, this will now be his fourth straight game missed due to the back injury. He has been an important piece of the Lakers success so far this season, averaging 9.3 points, 2.9 assists and a team-high 1.8 steals. But more important is the energy he brings when he is on the court, causing chaos and shifting momentum from the very moment he steps on the floor.

Back injuries are always very difficult to deal with and the Lakers know this all too well as James missed the start of the season due to sciatica. They certainly don’t want to lose Smart for an extended period so they will be extremely cautious with him already having undergone an MRI to determine the severity of the issue.

This game against the Raptors is also the first night of a back-to-back for the Lakers and the start of a three-game East Coast road trip. They will travel to Boston to face the Celtics on Friday and then have a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, so this schedule could also play a role in how they handle Smart returning.

In Smart’s absence, the Lakers have turned to Dalton Knecht, who helps the team offensively but still struggles on defense. It is possible Redick could turn to someone like Jarred Vanderbilt as well as he would help replace the scrappiness and defensive intensity the Lakers are missing with Smart out.

The rest of the Lakers’ injury report is clear, though James has spoken about continuing to deal with the foot issue that has been bothering him for the past couple of seasons. Even still, he is set to be available as the Lakers kick off their toughest stretch of the regular season so far.

Rob Pelinka discusses Marcus Smart’s importance to the Lakers​

When Marcus Smart was bought out this past offseason, the Lakers moved quickly to sign him to a two-year deal as they felt he would bring a toughness and energy that the team needed. And his impact overall has been a positive one.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka recently spoke on this, mentioning not only what he brings to the Lakers during games, but also his leadership, communication and ability to push his teammates on a daily basis in practice.

“We see today’s NBA game is a highly physical game so you need those physical, scrappy defenders. But what our fans don’t know about Marcus Smart is how he elevates practice everyday,” Pelinka said in an interview with Spectrum SportsNet. “He is getting after guys, he is elevating things. The level of competition, his voice in the locker room, he’s been really, really, really integral to our success.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-report-luka-doncic-marcus-smart-out-vs-raptors/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

JJ Redick Embracing Lakers’ Tough Stretch Coming Up On Schedule

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has done a great job in leading his team to a 15-5 start this season. Despite LeBron James not playing most of the games, and minor injuries forcing nearly everyone on the roster to miss at least one game, the Lakers have played hard and looked like one of the better teams in the league.

But now, the Lakers are facing their toughest stretch of the season so far as they are set to embark on a three-game road trip which kicks off with a back-to-back against the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics, followed by a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. And when they return home, they will host the San Antonio Spurs in the quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup.

Redick understands that this is a huge challenge for this Lakers team, but he is prepared for it and will have his team ready for the task that lies ahead.

“The entire season is challenging but throughout the season,” Redick said. “There are stretches that are more challenging than others… In terms of an East Coast trip – I know there’s a couple of teams that have stuff like this in terms of the Eastern Conference going west and West going east – I’ve been part of the NBA 19 years. I don’t ever remember a California-based team going to the far east of the Eastern Conference for three games to play three and four nights. That’s an incredible challenge. And then we come back of course and got another challenge. It’s going to be a tough stretch and we’re going to have to manage a lot of different stuff coming up.”

One of those things they will have to manage is those injuries as Marcus Smart is dealing with a back issue while James continues to deal with a foot problem that has been bothering him for years now.

The Lakers have proven that they can win games regardless of who is on the court and as long as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves continue to play at a high level they can beat anyone on any given night. But this coming week will test the Lakers like they haven’t been so far this year and Redick will have to make sure his team is up for the challenge.

Austin Reaves believes Lakers need to ‘flush’ loss to Suns​

Unfortunately, the Lakers aren’t going into this road trip on a high note as they saw their seven-game win streak snapped with an awful loss to the Phoenix Suns. And Austin Reaves feels they just need to “flush” that loss and move on with some challenging matchups in front of them.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/jj-redick-embracing-lakers-tough-stretch-coming-up-on-schedule/