All articles tagged with #los angeles lakers
Bronny James continued to push for a bigger role with the Lakers, scoring 10 points in 21 minutes off the bench in a 119-103 win over the Warriors as injuries thin the rotation; his improving defense and timely scoring have him in consideration for a nine-man playoff rotation, a role that could grow even with Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes returning.
The Lakers face a high-stakes choice: push Luka Doncic back from a left-hamstring injury and decide how long to rely on Austin Reaves’ oblique strain, weighing a potential playoff run against the danger of re-injury or longer-term damage and the implications for Reaves’ upcoming contract.
LeBron James led the Lakers to a win over a shorthanded Warriors (Curry out), with 26 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds, as Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura contributed solidly; the piece provides player grades for the game, highlighting the Lakers' depth and rotation choices that aided the victory.
Luka Doncic scored 41 points and earned his 16th technical foul as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 116-99.
LeBron James recorded the NBA's first father-son assist when he passed to Bronny for a 3-pointer in the Lakers’ second quarter against Brooklyn; the duo shared about 4½ minutes on the floor, with LeBron scoring a layup and Bronny adding another 3. Bronny has begun earning rotation minutes in the Lakers’ lineup as Marcus Smart has been out, marking the first time a father and son have played in the NBA at the same time and on the same team.
The NBA league office overturned Luka Dončić’s 16th technical foul, sparing him an automatic one-game suspension after a heated double-technical exchange with Goga Bitadze in the Lakers’ 105-104 win over the Magic. Dončić said Bitadze insulted his family, but officials ruled the incident did not warrant a season-altering penalty, leaving him at 15 technicals as Los Angeles rides a nine-game win streak into a key matchup.
Luke Kennard drilled a go-ahead 3 with 2.6 seconds left to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 105-104 win over the Orlando Magic, in a wild finish that also saw LeBron James move into the NBA's all-time games played and Luka Dončić pace the game with 33 points.
The Los Angeles Lakers listed Austin Reaves as questionable for Saturday’s road game against the Orlando Magic, as LA rode an eight-game win streak and sat third in the Western Conference at 45-25.
Luka Doncic dropped 60 points and LeBron James logged a 19-15-10 triple-double as the Los Angeles Lakers outslugged the Miami Heat 134-126 in Miami, extending LAL’s season-best eight-game winning streak. Bam Adebayo led Miami with 28, while Austin Reaves added 18 for the Lakers; the Heat were without Jaquez Jr. and Wiggins. Doncic went 18-for-30 from the field and 9-for-17 from three, powering a high-scoring Lakers win.
Luka Doncic poured in 40 points (with 9 rebounds and 10 assists) to power the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-116 win over Houston, sealing a key playoff-seeding tiebreaker and extending LA’s streak to seven victories. LeBron James added 30 as the defense tightened and the Lakers’ sharp shooting kept them ahead in a crowded Western Conference race, with 13 games left and tiebreakers over the Rockets, Nuggets and Timberwolves already secured.
LA outlasted Denver in overtime after Austin Reaves intentionally missed a late free throw, grabbed the rebound, and scored to force OT, where Luka Dončić sealed the win with a clutch jumper; the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report flagged one incorrect foul on Spencer Jones with 9.2 seconds left in regulation that would have given the Lakers control of inbounding down three, though it’s unclear whether the outcome would have changed. The piece notes Lakers’ strong clutch record (18-6) and recalls a prior missed Suns travel call, but argues tight games tend to even out.
LeBron James and Austin Reaves forced overtime, and Luka Dončić sealed the Lakers’ 127-125 win over the Nuggets with a fadeaway after posting a triple-double (30 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists); Reaves added 32, LeBron 17, Ayton contributed four points in OT, and Jamal Murray fouled out as L.A. earned the tiebreaker over Denver and prepared to face the Rockets next.
LeBron James returned from injury and said he’s willing to sacrifice his usual high-usage role to help the Lakers win, acknowledging a need to give Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves room on the ball. He had 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in a 142-130 win over the Bulls, with coach JJ Redick praising his willingness to adapt for the team and for playoff readiness.
LeBron James was sidelined, yet the Los Angeles Lakers rolled to a 110-97 win over the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena as a star-studded crowd—including Martin Lawrence, Sacha Baron Cohen, Action Bronson, Flea and more—turned the game into a Hollywood spectacle, underscoring the Lakers–Knicks matchup as a cultural event in addition to a basketball game.
The Lakers’ win over the Knicks signals progress against a quality opponent but doesn’t solve the bigger task of beating top teams. Luka Dončić exploded for 35 points with timely shotmaking, and Austin Reaves returned with 25 points. Rui Hachimura started hot, Deandre Ayton defended well, and Marcus Smart produced a chaotic yet impactful all‑around game. Luke Kennard provided spacing, Jaxson Hayes and a three-big lineup added energy, and the piece highlights mixed player grades with the top marks going to Dončić, Reaves, and Ayton. The win is a promising start, not a cure.