Luka Dončić returned to the court on Friday, and he dominated once again. He scored 44 points and helped the Lakers win their first NBA Cup game of the year.
The Lakers’ offense slowed down in the second
quarter, but they responded well after halftime, and with Luka going beserk, they were able to win easily in Memphis.
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.
Luka Dončić
39 minutes, 44 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 turnovers, 3 fouls, 14-27 FG, 6-15 3PT, 10-13 FT, -2
Luka was in complete control in this game. He was scoring with ease, making pretty passes and jawing with the Grizzlies bench late into the contest.
The biggest issue was some early turnovers, but that was likely just Luka getting the rust off after missing a few games. Overall, he has been stupendous and is looking like an MVP candidate.
Grade: A+
Austin Reaves
36 minutes, 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 5-14 FG, 2-8 3PT, 9-9 FT, +15
Reaves was quiet for moments and struggled with his shot on Friday night.
However, Austin is a good player and knows how to make a positive impact when the ball isn’t going through the hoop. He had four assists and was a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line.
No, this wasn’t a 51-point game for Reaves or anything close to that level, but it was a solid showing.
Grade: B
Rui Hachimura
38 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 2-4 FG, 2-4 3PT, 3-4 FT, +7
Hachimura had one great 3-pointer, but overall, he was mediocre in this one. The Lakers need more offense from hi,m and that starts with Hachimura being more aggressive.
These kinds of nights can’t be commonplace if he wants to remain a starter.
Grade: C
Deandre Ayton
17 minutes, 9 points, 1 turnover, 4-6 FG, 1-1 FT, -17
Ayton tweaked his back during the second quarter on an alley-oop and did not return to play. Postgame, Ayton said he could’ve returned, and head coach JJ Redick said he didn’t play him in the fourth because he “didn’t want to risk it.”
Ayton seems to believe he’ll play on Sunday at home against the Heat. During his two quarters of play tonight, he was scoring well inside the paint before his game was cut short.
Grade: B
Marcus Smart
35 minutes, 12 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, 5-8 FG, 1-4 3PT, 1-1 FT, +12
In Smart’s return, he was good. He didn’t have any spectacular plays or highlight-worthy try-hard moments, but he scored well, grabbed some boards, and distributed the ball well.
Grade: B
Jake LaRavia
23 minutes, 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 5-8 FG, 1-3 3PT, 2-3 FT, -4
If LaRavia continues to play this well, soon we’ll see Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka giving interviews and discussing how to hit on free agents.
LaRavia was a monster in the team’s win over the Wolves, and his encore was enjoyable. He shot the ball well and brought some much-needed energy off the bench.
Grade: A
Jarred Vanderbilt
14 minutes, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 foul, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, +9
Vando had a block, an emphatic dunk in the fourth and did his Looney Tunes Tasmanian Devil work all night. He was an irritant to the Grizzlies, and now that he’s healthy, he is a must-play player.
Grade: B+
Dalton Knecht
15 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2-5 FG, 1-3 3PT, -10
Knecht has had some nice games as of late, but this performance in Memphis wasn’t nearly as impressive. That’s not to say it was bad. He scored fine and contributed well on offense and tried on defense.
With so many players out, though, Knecht should be scoring in double figures. Still, he was respectable, and hopefully, he continues to improve during November.
Grade: C
Jaxson Hayes
23 minutes, 2 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 foul, 1-2 FG, 0-2 FT, +15
Credit to Hayes for stepping up with Hayes out and playing more in the second half. His scoring wasn’t present, but his rebounding and passing were huge in this game.
He ended the night with a plus-minus of +15, tied for the best on the Lakers with Reaves.
If Ayton can’t play on Sunday, Hayes has proven he can handle that workload, at least for a game or two.
Grade: A
JJ Redick
Redick was smart not to play Ayton in the second half. He was cautious, trusted Hayes and it worked. Starting Smart was also a good move and the rotations made sense. When his team struggled in the second quarter, they came out strong in the third and regained control. Redick continues to win despite the numerous injuries and challenges that come with that.
Grade: A+
Wednesday’s DNPs: Bronny James, Nick Smith Jr.
Wednesday’s inactives: LeBron James, Maxi Kleber, Adou Thiero, Gabe Vincent
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
