Thursday’s Lakers game against the Raptors had the drama of a Marvel movie.
With Luka Dončić out, the Lakers relied on Austin Reaves and he delivered, scoring 44 points. However, the game was still even at 120 with 20 seconds to go.
With the result and LeBron James’ double-digit scoring streak at risk, LeBron did what he always does and made the right basketball play, passing to a wide-open Rui Hachimura to seal the win for the purple and gold.
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
36 minutes, 8 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 foul, 4-17 FG, 0-5 3PT, –1
Well, we knew this day was coming. LeBron’s streak of 10 or more points ends at 1,297 games. He wasn’t great in this game, missing every 3-point attempt and struggling from the field in general. But he still was drawing double teams and dishing the ball well with 11 assists and zero turnovers.
His last assist was the most important one, finding Hachimura for the game-winner. Hopefully, he finds his offensive groove but, despite his struggles, the Lakers don’t win this game without him
Grade: C
Rui Hachimura
35 minutes, 12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 4-9 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2-2 FT, +4
Rui, take a bow! That 3-pointer to win is as clutch as it gets. Sure, his defense was weak today and how he lost a couple of those rebounds I’ll never know. But history is written by the winners, and that shot he made will be one of the best highlights of the year.
Grade: B+
Deandre Ayton
32 minutes, 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 8-11 FG, 1-1 FT, -1
Ayton continues to impress. He was efficient as ever from the field and he was a great rim protector. Asking him to do more would be unrealistic and extremely greedy. Keep it up Ayton, you’ve been a lion.
Grade: A
Austin Reaves
41 minutes, 44 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 turnovers, 3 fouls, 13-21 FG, 5-11 3PT, 13-15 FT, +6
Everyone knew Reaves would have to do more with Luka out. Even so, 44 points is just a guady number. It’s incredible we’ve gotten to the point where that is a realistic possibility for him on a nightly basis. His play will get a bit lost in all the hoopla regarding the ending of this game, but it shouldn’t be.
Reaves was far and away the best player on the court tonight.
Grade: A+
Gabe Vincent
24 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 6 fouls, 2-8 FG, 1-5 3PT, 0
There have been some solid shifts here and there, but I can’t remember the last time I was happy with an entire game from Vincent. Against the Raptors, he was rough. His defense wasn’t great, his offense was absent and he fouled out midway through the fourth, forcing LeBron to check in early and have to play the rest of the way.
Head coach JJ Redick seems to like him and he might be the only one.
Grade: D
Jake LaRavia
28 minutes, 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 5-8 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2-2 FT, +1
This was one of LaRavia’s best games this year. He scored 14 points off the bench and even had a nice chasedown block midway through the fourth that helped kill Toronto’s momentum.
LaRavia was also a beast on the boards with seven rebounds.
Grade: B+
Jaxson Hayes
16 minutes, 4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2-5 FG, +4
This was a typical Hayes game. He scored a couple of times, grabbed some rebounds and stayed out of foul trouble.
Grade: B-
Nick Smith Jr.
14 minutes, 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 4-7 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2-3 FT, +6
Smith Jr. loves some Smith Jr. He is a straight-up chucker, and when it works, you love it. Against the Raptors, it served him well. He was aggressive and scoring the ball, helping the Lakers get some much-needed bench production.
Grade: A
Adou Thiero
10 minutes, 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1-1 FG, 2-3 FT, -2
Thiero didn’t play much, but he made his minutes count. He had a nice finish at the rim, forced the Raptors to foul him when he penetrated, and he had a rebound, a steal and an assist in his 10 minutes of action.
He’s quickly making a case that he should get minutes at the end of Redick’s rotation.
Grade: B+
Dalton Knecht
Knecht played for just three minutes, so he will not get a grade.
JJ Redick
Redick pushed nearly all the right buttons on Thursday night. He lost his challenge, but he timed Reaves’ rest well and gave Theiro time over more experienced players. Down the stretch, he let the Lakers play and trusted Bron and company to get it done and they did.
Grade: B
Thursday’s DNPs: Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, Bronny James
Thursday’s inactives: Marcus Smart, Luka Dončić
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
