Game Recap

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Darius Soriano

The Lakers were not ready for the onslaught of three pointers the 76ers rained down on them, falling behind early and never getting all the way back into the game to put the result into question. The result was a 138-94 shellacking at the hands of Philly, the Lakers worst loss of the season and dropping them to 10-8 on the season (1-1 on their current road trip).

The Lakers attempted to shrink the floor defensively against the NBA's leading scorer Joel Embiid, pinching driving lanes and showing him second defenders on some of his post ups, and Embiid made this approach pay by making passes to open teammates spread out around the three-point arc. Those shooters let the ball fly without hesitation, and quickly got into the type of rhythm that can become contagious across a roster.

Philly connected on five three-pointers in the 1st quarter and an additional eight in the 2nd quarter (on 26 total attempts) to totally take control of the game. Again, again, Embiid played a key part in this, tallying seven of his 11 assists in those first 24 minutes to punish the Lakers attempts to complicate the defensive looks he would see.

Even those attempts, however, wouldn't do much to slow down the reigning MVP, who scored 17 of his 30 points in the 1st half. Embiid did much of his work on jumpers of his own connecting on two of his three attempts from deep while also connecting from the mid-range.

While the offense ran through Embiid as the hub of the team's offense, it was Tyrese Maxey who worked around the edges to complement his big man perfectly, whirring around pin-down screens and handoff actions to get separation for his jumper or to help create driving angles. Maxey scored 20 of his game-high 31 points in the first half, hitting the open shots he got and beating good defense with even better shot making.

On the Lakers end, LeBron James and Anthony Davis tried to keep the Lakers in the game with their own offense and they did a good job of that before the barrage of threes became too much to overcome.

LeBron connected on six of his first seven shots from the field and scored 13 of his 18 points in the first half. LeBron mixed in drives to the rim with a couple of outside shots of his own, doing his best to balance out the 76ers' hot shooting. Davis, meanwhile, scored 12 of his 17 points in the first half, connecting on six of his 10 shots over those two periods while grabbing six of his 11 rebounds as well.

A 10-4 run to close the 2nd quarter allowed the Lakers to cut a once 25-point deficit down to 15 at the half, and things looked promising to start the 3rd quarter when the Lakers looked primed to make another push. But, the 76ers were able to fend them off and once things settled back into the normal rhythm of the game, the Lakers remained at arm's length and hadn't made enough progress on the scoreboard to change the tenor of the contest.

Once the fourth quarter came, Philly put an even tighter grip on things with another push and that was the final straw. The benches were then emptied, and the Lakers deep reserves weren't able to hold onto the rope at all, with the lead ballooning into the forties.

Ultimately, though, even though a fair portion of the final margin came late, the 76ers won this game early with their shot making and their general execution. They ended the night 22-of-46 from distance, outscoring the Lakers by 45 points from beyond the arc in the process. That type of imbalance is simply too hard to overcome.

The Lakers will try to regroup and bounce back when they play in Detroit on Wednesday night.

76ers-get-hot-from-outside-blowout-lakers-11-27-23

76ers Get Hot from Outside, Blowout Lakers

After allowing 71 points in the first half, the Lakers held the Cavaliers to just 44 in the second half -- including just 21 in the final quarter -- to win 121-115 in Cleveland on Saturday night. The win gets the Lakers off on the right foot to start their four-game road trip and offered a nice homecoming for LeBron James who moves to 9-2 all-time as a visiting player vs. his former franchise.

Playing a shortened rotation due to the multiple injuries the team is trying to manage, the Lakers required strong performances from all eight players who saw game action -- and got just that to take down a Cavs team that had won four of their last five games heading into this contest.

Chief among those was Anthony Davis, who played a wonderfully balanced offensive game against Cleveland's long and defensive focused front court duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. AD scored 32 points on 13-of-20 shooting by shifting between the post and the midrange, and finding the creases of the defense on cuts and dives to keep both Cavalier bigs off balance.

On one possession AD would pick and pop for a 15-foot jumper, then on another he would turn and face out of the mid-post for a floating one-hander, and then later he'd deploy a bully-ball post-up into a feathery lefty jump hook. It was just a marvelously diverse and much-needed offensive performance that provided ballast for his team in the half court.

Offensively, however, Davis did not do it alone. Seven of the eight Lakers who played scored in double figures, with Max Christie's 12 points on 5-7 shooting and Christian Wood's 13 points on the same shooting line being key in helping to carry the offensive burden on a night that LeBron (22 points on 8-of-23 shooting) was not as efficient as he normally is.

Christie's performance was especially meaningful, not just because of his early season challenges to crack the rotation and him taking advantage of the opportunities the team's injuries have opened up for him, but because of the tremendous defense he played all night while chasing around Donovan Mitchell.

Mitchell shot just 4-of-18 from the field, and at least some of that was due to Max's diligence defensively in which he successfully chased Mitchell over and around screens to stay connected and challenge shots high at the release point. Mitchell did score 22 points, but most of that work came at the foul line (12-13 from the stripe) and in the 1st half (16 of his 22 points before intermission) when he had a nice stretch to open the game in the game's first minutes.

Mitchell's 2nd half struggles offensively were a team-wide theme for the Cavs, who as a group shot just 40.9% from the floor over the final two quarters -- including hitting only three of their 12 attempts from deep. The Lakers, collectively, did a much better job of corralling ball handlers at the point of attack, but also mixing in different defensive coverages -- including playing some zone and switching ball screens -- to better stay attached and be in position to challenge shot attempts.

That togetherness defensively was also a theme on the other side of the ball where the Lakers tallied 34 assists on their 47 made baskets, symbolic of the way they not only moved the ball onto the open man, but put the Cavs on their heels and in help situations to make those passing reads appear in the first place.

Austin Reaves led the way in this regard, leading the team with 10 dimes, including several highlight lobs to Jaxson Hayes on well-timed cuts against a Cavs defense shading to try to slow down the ball or titled towards either LeBron or AD.

The Lakers have now won three straight road games overall and will look to carry that momentum forward and keep that streak going when the play in Philly on Monday night.

lakers-defense-tightens-in-2nd-half-to-take-down-the-cavs-11-25-23

Lakers Defense Tightens in 2nd Half to Take Down the Cavs

Taylor Geas

Before tonight, the Lakers had won six of their last seven games, but after being defeated in the final moments by the Dallas Mavericks, 104-101, their record falls to 9-7. 

Los Angeles was down by 20 at one point in this match, they were getting destroyed by Dallas on the fast break and their ability to convert second-chance points. But then in the fourth quarter off a few momentum plays on behalf of Austin Reaves and LeBron James. LeBron finished the game with 26 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. He made four of nine from the arc (44.4%). 

Austin had 17 points, six assists, and six rebounds—and hit a triple in conjunction with Bron in the final frame to help chip the 20-point deficit down to 13 points. Austin kept driving downhill and confidently shooting his infamous floater, the 13-point deficit became nine. 

Taurean Prince jumped in on the offensive action as well and was charging his teammates with corner threes and drives to the hoop. Prince finished with 15 points.  

“It’s tough,” Davis explained, “We had a shot to win the game and got back with our defense in the fourth quarter.” But in the same sentence he mentioned “…We don’t celebrate moral victories but we’re a resilient team.”

The Lakers have certainly made a name for themselves in terms of fourth-quarter comebacks 16 games into the season, even with having to make adjustments to their rotations on account of injuries— like tonight. Where Cam Reddish moved into the starting five nearly two weeks ago, an aggravated groin injury had him sidelined tonight.

Max Christie started in Cam’s place and was tasked with guarding Kyrie Irving who finished the night with 26 points and the dagger three.  

“He looked really good in his first start,” AD said of Christie, “There’s obviously some things we can clean up as a group and individually.  

There’s a lot to be said for how the Lakers have continued to adjust despite the unpredictability of their personnel. Head Coach Darvin Ham called tonight’s loss “disappointing but not discouraging.”  

“It's game 16, I mean we have a long a** way to go man. You try to execute constantly, get your coverages right defensively, try to generate your offense with spacing and pace. Again, we haven't been whole yet, but I think the guys that have been out there have done a phenomenal job. ...It’s all a part of trying to figure out your group.” 

The Lakers are back Saturday in Cleveland.  

lakers-fourth-quarter-fire-cant-hold-off-mavericks

Lakers Fourth-Quarter Fire Can’t Hold Off Mavericks 

In a game they led by as many as 39, the Lakers scored 76 points in the paint and shot 57% from the field overall to handily beat the Jazz 131-97 on Friday night. The victory allowed the Lakers to clinch Group A with a 4-0 record for the In-Season Tournament, moving them into the quarterfinals where they will host a game for a chance to advance to the semi-finals.

Without starting big man Walker Kessler to patrol the paint for the Jazz, the Lakers attacked the rim early and often to set the tone in this one and forced Utah to show they could find a solution. Unfortunate for them, they had little antidote for Anthony Davis inside and the Lakers continued to press their advantage with AD serving as the focal point of their offensive attack.

Davis finished with 26 points on 11-14 field goals while grabbing 16 rebounds (five offensive) to go along with four assists. The Lakers found AD on lobs and other quick entries, and Davis did well to catch and finish around, over, and through Jazz defenders. LeBron was especially eager to feed his big man, perfectly connecting on multiple passes as Davis spun, dove, and slashed into the gaps of the defense.

Speaking of LeBron, he had another efficient night with 17 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists in just 24 minutes of game action while becoming lone member of the 39,000-point club.

LeBron was not only dishing out dimes to AD, but was creating good shots for teammates all over the floor while also continuing his hot shooting to start the season. LeBron connected on three of his five attempts from deep (and six of his 10 shots overall), showing great confidence in taking the three ball in rhythm and without hesitation. And when the Jazz did try to press up on him a bit too much, LeBron did not hesitate in attacking the rim to finish inside with force.

While multiple other Lakers had strong offensive nights next to LeBron and AD, no one offered the level of efficient shooting and general playmaking as D'Angelo Russell. Russell found his rhythm early and never lost it, scoring 20 points on 7-9 shooting to go along with eight assists without a single turnover. Russell connected on three of his four attempts from behind the arc, but did well to mix in attacks on the paint via drives and the occasional post up.

In the face of a great team win, however, the Lakers did get a bit of bad news on the injury front. Cam Reddish left the game in the 1st quarter with a tweak of his groin. Reddish did not return to the action, but did join his teammates on the bench after halftime.

Overall, however, this was another strong team win that showed a group that is coming together on both sides of the ball. The Lakers held the Jazz to just 38.8% shooting on the night and forced them into 14 turnovers that led to 21 Lakers points. And while the Jazz did secure 13 offensive rebounds, those came on 60 missed field goal attempts, which translates to the Lakers mostly winning the battle on the backboards.

The Lakers, then, are beginning to find their stride. This game marks their third consecutive win and their sixth in their last seven games. A streak they will look to keep going when they host the Dallas Mavericks on the 2nd night of a back-to-back on Wednesday night.

lakers-dominate-the-paint-to-pummel-jazz-11-21-23

Lakers Dominate the Paint to Pummel Jazz

For the fifth time in six games the Lakers were the last team standing, beating the Rockets 105-104 in a tightly contested game that came down to the final seconds. The win lifts the Lakers to 8-6 on the season and was another clutch victory for team that has been excellent at finishing close games this season.

The difference was a LeBron James free throw, the product of a foul-earning drive that came after the Rockets tied the game with just four seconds remaining on a layup of their own. LeBron tried to match that Houston bucket, but they were not going to let him, instead making him earn it at the stripe. After LeBron split the free throws to give his team a one-point lead, Dillon Brooks' last second heave veered wide left, leaving the Lakers victorious.

Beyond the game winner, LeBron was again brilliant in this one, scoring a season-high 37 points on an incredibly efficient 14-of-19 shooting to go along with six rebounds, eight assists, and three steals. LeBron did not discriminate in how he attacked offensively, operating as a true three-level scorer by torching Houston from behind the arc, the mid-range, and when getting to the rim to score over and around the Rockets' defense.

Joining LeBron in closing out the Rockets was Austin Reaves, who hit some critical buckets of his own down the stretch, and served as the main counterbalance to LeBron's offensive output in the 4th quarter. Reaves scored nine of his 17 points in the final frame, connecting on both of his field goal attempts and four of his five foul shots in the period. Of all his shots, however, none was more important than the three-pointer he hit with 23 seconds left in the game to put the Lakers up by three.

After the game, Austin noted that he didn't know how deep the shot was, but said that he has confidence in himself to knock these sorts of shots down. And the Lakers are sure happy that he does.

Beyond LeBron and Reaves, Anthony Davis also had an absolutely terrific performance, particularly in the first three quarters. Davis played with foul trouble most of the night -- and fouled out with just under a minute left in the game -- but did not let that deter him from having a major impact on the game.

AD scored 27 points, connecting on 11 of his 15 attempts from the field while grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with three assists, two steals, and a block. Davis was again dominant from the post offensively, establishing deep position and scoring with ease on a variety jump hooks, turnarounds, and layups vs. a Houston defense that had little chance of slowing him once he got into his move.

Though the team had those strong individual performances, from a team perspective the Lakers struggled to connect on their shots from the outside and could never quite find their range even on some high-quality looks. They connected on just six of their 29 attempts from beyond the arc, with Taurean Prince (0-4 from deep, 1-11 overall) and D'Angelo Russell (1-5 from deep, 1-8 overall) having particular issues getting into a rhythm on that end of the floor.

With the Lakers' offense out of sync (outside of LeBron, Davis, and Reaves), they became more reliant on their defense to carry them and did well to disrupt Houston's offense with activity and hustle all over the floor. The Lakers forced the Rockets into 18 turnovers on the night, with the Lakers turning those into 24 points. On a night that Houston outscored them by 24 points from beyond the arc, the Lakers winning the turnover battle and getting some easy points out of those miscues was paramount in them getting this win.

Cam Reddish was particularly important in this area, posting three steals and getting countless other deflections in his game-high 39 minutes of action. It was the sixth time in seven games that Reddish tallied at least three steals in a game, showing once again the type of impact he can have both on and off the ball defensively.

Overall, then, this was not the prettiest of wins, but the Lakers got it done with enough defensive fortitude and late game execution to hold on. They will look to keep this momentum going when they host the Jazz in the final game of the group-play portion of then In-Season Tournament on Tuesday.

lebron-clutch-again-lakers-fend-off-rockets-for-the-win-11-19-23

LeBron Clutch Again, Lakers Fend Off Rockets for the Win

Playing on the 2nd night of a back-to-back and without their peak energy to start the game, the Lakers fell behind big early and were never able to fully recover in a 125-110 loss to the Kings on Wednesday night. The game drops the Lakers back down to .500 on the season and snaps their three-game winning streak in the process.

The Kings clearly understood their path to beating a Lakers team that played the night before was to push the pace as much as possible, not only in transition off missed shots or turnovers, but even after Lakers scores. De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis were twin engines of the Kings' offensive approach, running out and playing with great tempo to get the Lakers defense back on their heels, leading to either shots in the paint or kick out passes for wide open three pointers.

Not only did the Lakers not match the Kings' approach with the needed urgency, but  they were too sloppy and unfocused in their own right, committing turnovers and missing good shots of their own in the paint when they had a chance to match the Kings buckets on the other end. The Lakers committed 23 turnovers which the Kings turned into 30 points, mostly on open court finishes when the Lakers either threw the ball away or suffered ball handling miscues against Sacramento ball pressure.

The result of the Lakers' early sloppiness was a 20-point first quarter deficit and the type of hole that, even in the modern NBA where every team makes a run and seemingly no lead is ever entirely safe, is still very difficult to come all the way back from.

The Lakers did battle and try to make it a game, though.

LeBron James was brilliant offensively in this one, scoring 28 points on just 15 field goal attempts (making nine) to go along with 10 rebounds and 11 assists. The triple-double was James' 1st of the season, but moved him up to 5th on the all-time list and the 2nd oldest player to ever record a triple-double. James had every aspect of his offensive repertoire going, scoring both inside and out while spraying passes all over the court to teammates for good shots of their own.

Joining LeBron with strong offensive night was D'Angelo Russell, whose shot making carried forward form Tuesday's win vs. the Grizzlies. Russell connected on 12 of his 20 shots vs. Sacramento (4-6 from behind the arc) to match LeBron's 28 points, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out five assists of his own.

Despite LeBron and Russell doing their best to keep the Lakers connected, the Kings were too much and always seemed to have an answer for any emerging Lakers run. Fox (28 points and five assists) and Sabonis (29 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists) were the key culprits in ensuring the Kings always stayed one step ahead, but a huge night from Kevin Huerter -- 28 points with six made three-pointers -- was also critical in slamming the door shut.

Meanwhile, the Lakers simply didn't get that additional performance from a key player to help them overcome. Anthony Davis had moments where he looked like himself and did grab 9 rebounds and block four shots, but could never quite find the touch offensively (nine points on 3-of-9 shooting) and looked to struggle some physically during different stretches of the game.

Similarly, Austin Reaves played a good floor game, grabbing a team-high 11 rebounds to go along with eight assists, but also committed four turnovers and had trouble finding the range on his jumper. A night after connecting on all four of his attempts from distance, Reaves missed all five of his attempts from deep vs. the Kings and 4-of-10 overall from the field for nine points.

Games like this, of course, happen. Though several of the Lakers key players got extended stretches of rest in Tuesday's blowout, this was still their third game in four nights and the Kings, with their naturally fast pace and tempo, made the Lakers pay for coming out of the gates a bit slow.

The Lakers will get a chance to bounce back on Friday when they visit Portland to play the Trail Blazers for the 2nd time in a week. That game will be the Lakers third of the In-Season Tournament where they currently have a 2-0 record.

slow-start-stalls-lakers-in-loss-to-speedy-kings-11-15-23

Slow Start Stalls Lakers in Loss to Speedy Kings

Maybe it was the new uniforms. Or the great looking In-Season Tournament court on display at Crypto.com Arena. But whatever it was, the Lakers broke out of their season-long shooting slump in a big way, scorching the nets and tying a franchise record with 22 made three-pointers (on just 35 attempts) to take down the Grizzlies 134-107 on Tuesday night. The game was the Lakers third consecutive win and pushes them over .500 to 6-5 on the season.

The Lakers not only tied a franchise record, but they became only the 2nd team in league history to connect on 22 or more three-pointers in a game while shooting at least 62% on those shots, joining the 2009 Orlando Magic who accomplished the feat in a January game against the Kings when they hit 23 of their 37 attempts from downtown. Seven Lakers hit at least a one long-ball in this one, the same number who scored in double-figures in a game that was a total team effort offensively.

And while several Lakers were flamethrowers from the outside, it was D'Angelo Russell's six makes on eight attempts that paced the team on the evening. Russell was especially brilliant in the 3rd quarter, connecting on three of his four attempts from beyond the arc and four of his five shots overall to score 13 of his game-high 24 points, allowing the Lakers to thwart a 3rd the Grizzlies attempt to claw their way into striking distance after falling behind by 11 after the 1st quarter and 23 at halftime.

While Russell (among others) blitzed Memphis from the outside, Anthony Davis controlled the paint on both ends of the floor. Davis scored 19 points on 7-11 shooting, with all of his makes coming in the paint. Davis magnificently maneuvered around the basket, diving into open gaps and scoring around, over, and through Grizzlies defenders.

And then on the other side of the ball, Davis was again his dominant self defensively, ensuring that every Memphis player would feel his presence around the rim should they venture into the paint. The NBA's blocked shots leader added six more to his ledger Tuesday night, swatting attempts from any and all comers, both in help situations and when his own man tried to test him.

Beyond Davis and Russell, in a slew of other fantastic performances, both Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves stood out for both their efficiency and all-around floor games respectively. Rui shot a blistering 8-10 from the field (3-3 from distance, 4-4 from the foul line) to score 23 points in 24 minutes of game action. From pull up jumpers to fadeaways to monster dunks inside, Rui's aggression and decisiveness allowed him to flouring vs. the Grizzlies defense.

As for Austin, he scored 16 points while connecting on all four of his shots from deep (and five of his nine attempts overall) while dishing out seven assists and grabbing a team-high 12 rebounds. Reaves again looked great running second unit offenses in a variety of different personnel groupings, showing ever more comfortable in adapting to his reserve role in the team's last three games.

Ultimately, though, this was a wonderful team win in which everyone contributed in multiple ways, which also allowed both LeBron and AD rest for the entire 4th quarter for the first time all season. Rest that will come in handy as the Lakers are back in action Wednesday night when they host the Kings on the 2nd night of a back-to-back.

barrage-of-threes-lifts-lakers-over-grizzlies-11-14-23

Barrage of Threes Lifts Lakers Over Grizzlies

With just 2:20 left in the 4th quarter, the Lakers once 11-point lead was nearly all the way gone. Portland's Jerami Grant had just hit a corner three, continuing the Blazers' rally and cutting their deficit to just two points. The Lakers weren't just scuffling on defense in a haze of cross matches, but in playing without LeBron James, also did not have their usual late game organizer and offensive fulcrum to commandeer these possessions.

On the Lakers subsequent offensive possession, Davis received an entry pass at the mid-post and proceeded to shoot a tough turnaround jumper over a great contest that danced around the rim before falling through.

The Blazers, trying to keep the pressure on, weren't able to connect on a long three pointer and there was AD to clear the defensive glass and secure the rebound. Now up by four, the Lakers again went to Davis in the post, but this time the Blazers weren't going to let him shoot it, sending a quick double to get the ball out of his hands. Davis deftly dropped the ball off to a diving Rui Hachimura for a layup. The basket put the Lakers up by six and the game was essentially over.

Davis had shut the door on a critical sequence of possessions, scoring two of his game-high 30 points, grabbing one of his game-high 13 rebounds, and dishing one of his six assists on the night. When his team needed him most, Davis was exactly what he needed to be -- the best player on the court.

Give the Blazers credit in this one. Down multiple key players and several of their top ball handlers, they played a strong team game with a balanced offensive attack. Six Blazers' scored in double figures, led by Grant's 23 points, Shaedon Sharpe's 19 points, and a double-double from Skylar Mays who scored 15 points while dishing out 11 assists. Mays' play was particularly important, not just because of all the ball-handlers the team was missing, but because of the way he kept his team organized and getting good shots all night.

The Lakers, however, got their own strong performances from a trio of perimeter players, with D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Cam Reddish all having strong nights in their own ways.

Starting in place of Reaves for the 2nd consecutive game, Reddish built on his success vs. the Suns to have another well-rounded game on both sides of the ball. Reddish started the game wonderfully, scoring 10 of his 18 points in the 1st quarter, flashing strong drives and finishes at the basket while proving he's still capable of knocking down the long ball. To go along with his good scoring night, Reddish would add seven rebounds, three steals, and a block, again having a strong impact on defense.

Russell, meanwhile, really picked up the slack as a playmaker and passer with LeBron out, tallying 11 assists to go along with 11 points and five rebounds. Russell did not have his most efficient shooting night (5-of-14), but he did a good job of balancing looking for his own shot with getting his teammates involved with excellent looks at the basket.

As for Reaves, he again closed the game as the team's lead ball handler and did a nice job throughout the game of playing with the right tempo and really looking to control the flow of the action. Showing a nice mix of creating shots for himself and his teammates, Reaves connected on six of his 12 shots from the field for 18 points while adding four rebounds and four assists. Reaves' desire to push the ball really did help the Lakers get some easy buckets in the paint -- an area that they exploited the Blazers' defense by outscoring them by 20 (68-48) on the evening.

With this win the Lakers return to .500 on the season and again showed they have a resiliency and ability to make important plays down the stretch to get a win. It was not always the prettiest of games, and both sides seemed content to seize control, just to allow the other side enough room to grab the game back multiple times. Down the stretch, however, it was the Lakers who made enough plays to win, with AD leading the way, but multiple others contributing to hold Portland off.

The Lakers will try to keep this moment going when they host the Grizzlies on Tuesday in their first home game of the In Season Tournament.

lakers-fend-off-blazers-behind-big-night-from-ad-11-12-23

Lakers Fend Off Blazers Behind Big Night from AD

<strong>Game Time Update</strong>: The start time for the game on <strong>1/17/24</strong> at Crypto.com Arena has been moved to 5:30pm PT