While it wasn’t necessarily a direct indicator of potential playoff success, the Lakers’ inability to beat “good” teams was a growing concern and trend.
Regardless of whatever metric or arbitrary line in the sand you wanted to draw, the Lakers were not beating the best teams in the league. As the postseason ticked closer and closer, it became a harder fact to ignore.
One win over the Knicks doesn’t change anything in and of itself, but it’s a start. With a whole lot of opportunities coming up to beat
more good teams, Sunday was at least a start in the right direction.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
Marcus Smart
29 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 1-10 FG, 0-5 3PT, 3-4 FT, +27
This is one of the all-time Marcus Smart performances. It was chaotic, good, bad and impactful. And yet, he finished with a game-high plus-minus of +27.
His fourth quarter featured repeated missed 3-pointers, yet he kept following that up with a big defensive play on the other end. Peak Marcus Smart.
Grade: B+
Rui Hachimura
37 minutes 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, 5-11 FG, 3-8 3PT, +5
Rui started this game out red hot, hitting his first four shots. Clearly, he tailed off the rest of the game offensively, but it was still a strong start that got the Lakers going early. Plus, seven rebounds from Rui is like 14 rebounds from a traditional power forward.
Grade: B
Deandre Ayton
20 minutes, 6 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 fouls, 3-4 FG, +3
This was actually a strong Ayton game, particularly defensively. It felt like he was defending Karl-Anthony Towns really well on top of knowing the gameplan. The Lakers went with three bigs in this game, but I think that could be the plan moving forward regardless of how well one of them plays.
Grade: A-
Austin Reaves
39 minutes, 25 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 8-16 FG, 3-6 3PT, 6-7 FT, +5
Welcome back, Austin Reaves. To say he was due for this would be an understatement, but it couldn’t have come at a better time. He was knocking down threes and getting to the rim, but the surest sign that he was back is that he was foul grifting at a high level again.
Grade: A
Luka Dončić
38 minutes, 35 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 6 turnovers, 3 fouls, 11-25 FG, 5-16 3PT, 8-10 FT, +14
What Luka lacked in efficiency, he made up for everywhere else. His shotmaking at multiple times in this one was outstanding, highlighted by his three while falling out of bounds.
He also made a number of plays defensively, ranging from ones you can count with stats like steals or ones you can’t, like contesting shots or forcing turnovers.
Grade: A
Luke Kennard
27 minutes, 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 4-8 FG, 3-7 3PT, 1-1 FT, +0
It remains impressive how quickly Luke has not just fit into this team but excelled. He is closing games and his ability to space the floor opens up so much for Luka, Austin and Jaxson Hayes. He’s exactly what this team needed and has been a great addition.
Grade: B+
Jaxson Hayes
17 minutes, 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 0-3 FG, 5-6 FT, +8
It’s surprising that Hayes did not make a field goal in this game because it felt like an impactful performance. He was battling on the glass and fighting defensively. And, again, it was the right call to have him close the game.
Grade: B+
Jake LaRavia
13 minutes, 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 2-2 FG, 2-2 FT, +8
While Jake still is lacking in the offensive production, he’s making up for it with his hustle. He came up with a trio of big offensive rebounds, two of those in the fourth. If he’s make hustle plays, you can look past some of his shortcomings right now as a scorer.
Grade: B+
Jarred Vanderbilt
10 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 fouls, 1-2 FG, 1-2 3PT, -4
A real Vando special in this one as the Lakers got both a corner three and a block at the rim from him. But he also got confused on a defensive assignment which led to him fouling KAT for an and-one, which might be a little peak into why his playing time has gone down.
Grade: C
Maxi Kleber
10 minutes, 1 steal, 2 fouls, -1
Pour one out for Maxi Kleber’s nose, which took a walloping from KAT. Somehow, it was Kleber’s nose who fouled KAT on that play, too.
Grade: C
JJ Redick
The Lakers came out ready to go from the jump in this one. More impressively given their track record, they put the game to bed, really, in the third quarter. They never let go of the rope in the fourth as New York made a small run and closed it out without much cause for concern.
Grade: A
Sunday’s DNPs: Kobe Bufkin, Dalton Knecht, Drew Timme
Sunday’s inactives: Nick Smith Jr., LeBron James, Bronny James, Adou Thiero, Chris Mañon
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
