Eventually, the Lakers will lose a basketball game again this season. But for however long their win streak goes, they’ll be hard-pressed to have a more improbable win than Saturday’s.
With 4.7 seconds left, the Magic had a two-point lead, the ball and a timeout. From that point, they lost the ball and gave up two wide-open looks at the basket. The first was at the rim to the all-time leader in points. The second was a three to a shooter having one of the most efficient shooting seasons from range
in league history.
Truly an impressive amount of choking, all within five seconds.
This was a very ugly game offensively for the Lakers. Their defense kept them alive in the second half and did just enough to keep them attached late. In a win streak with lots of fun offensive games, both individually and as a team, this was a much different way to win a game.
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.
LeBron James
35 minutes, 12 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 5-13 FG, 0-2 3PT, 2-2 FT, +4
This was not a good LeBron showing. Half of his 12 points came in a stretch of three straight possessions in the third quarter where he got out in transition.
Grade: C-
Marcus Smart
31 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 0-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, 2-2 FT, +1
The two most notable plays from Smart first included him doing the splits and limping off the court with a pain every male Lakers fan felt. He was also the recipient of maybe the worst call of the night after being given a technical foul for…falling?
Grade: C-
Deandre Ayton
29 minutes, 9 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 3-4 FG, 3-6 FT, +2
Kudos to Ayton, who inadvertently showed how hard it was for Austin to intentionally miss his free throw and have it carom right back to him.
Grade: B+
Austin Reaves
40 minutes, 26 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls, 10-20 FG, 2-8 3PT, 4-4 FT, +8
It was a huge fourth quarter as he really saved the team’s blushes. The team had nine field goals in the fourth quarter and four of them were from Reaves.
Luka Dončić
38 minutes, 33 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls, 12-30 FG, 3-13 3PT, 6-9 FT, +10
It probably wouldn’t be much of an overstatement to say the second half was possibly the worst half Luka has played as a Laker. He had one field goal in each quarter and finished 2-13 from the field while missing all seven of his threes.
The good was really good in the first half but that was an atrocious second half, which makes it really hard to grade and I’m sure everyone will agree with what I’m about to give him.
Grade: C+
Rui Hachimura
15 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 block, 1 foul, 1-2 FG, -3
This was a super quiet game from Rui, whose only field goal came in the first quarter.
Grade: D
Jaxson Hayes
19 minutes, 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 fouls, 3-3 FG, 2-6 FT, -2
Hayes’ second half was good in a way that is abnormal for him in that he was being very physical, grabbing boards and blocking shots at the rim.
Grade: B+
Luke Kennard
20 minutes, 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 5-7 FG, 3-4 3PT, -6
Kennard was long overdue for a breakout game after a series of quiet offensive games. It was already a strong showing even before he buried the game-winner, which bumps you up a grade or three.
Grade: A
Jake LaRavia
14 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 4 fouls, 0-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, -9
In the month of March, LaRavia is shooting 32.7% from the field and 15.8% from the 3-point line. Are we nearing a point where Jarred Vanderbilt should get minutes over him?
Grade: F
JJ Redick
We’re going to give JJ a boost on his grade for the final two out-of-bounds plays of the game, which created two open looks. Assistant coach Greg St. Jean drew up the latter, but we aren’t grading assistants. So consider this grade all inconclusive with his staff.
Grade: A-
Saturday’s DNPs: Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, Drew Timme, Jarred Vanderbilt
Saturday’s inactives: Maxi Kleber, Kobe Bufkin, Nick Smith Jr., Adou Thiero, Chris Mañon
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