In back-to-back games, the Lakers have rallied in the second half to pull out wins. On Sunday against the Raptors, they trailed by three entering the fourth before coming out on top.
Then, on Tuesday in Denver, they were down by 14 entering the third quarter and shut down the Nuggets’ offense, holding them to just 36 points the rest of the way.
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Winning games while trailing for most of them isn’t a recipe for success, but it was encouraging to see the Lakers fight back in both games and get victories against a pair of winning teams.
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.
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LeBron James
34 minutes, 19 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 6 turnovers, 2 fouls, 8-15 FG, 1-1 3PT, 2-6 FT, +13
This was a complete game from LeBron. He attacked the paint all night long and was integral in LA’s comeback. His emphatic dunk in the fourth put an exclamation point on the game and killed any hopes the Nuggets had of winning.
Grade: B+
Jake LaRavia
27 minutes, 7 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, 3-5 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-1 FT +4
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LaRavia disappeared in this game. He didn’t bring much offense, the defense was poor and the rebounding was non-existent. If he is going to remain a starter, he has to be more consistent.
Grade: D
Deandre Ayton
15 minutes, 4 points, 8 rebounds, 1 foul, 2-5 FG, -1
Considering Ayton was ruled out for the second half, grading him feels a bit unfair. Overall, he was cleaning up the glass well and started a bit slow offensively. Hopefully, his eye injury isn’t too serious, and he can return soon.
Grade: B
Marcus Smart
31 minutes, 15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 4-9 FG, 3-6 3PT, 4-5 FT, +6
Smart was a second-half superstar for the purple and gold. All of his 15 points came after halftime. Not only did he score for LA, but he did his typical Smart things. He was hustling and flying around the court, being a ball of energy. The Lakers took that momentum and used it to change the trajectory of the game.
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Grade: A-
Luka Dončić
36 minutes, 38 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, 12-21 FG, 3-9 3PT, 11-12 FT, -2
This was Luka’s first game since being named an All-Star as a Laker. He demonstrated why he was the NBA’s top vote-getter with his performance against the Nuggets.
In the first quarter, he was a perfect 6-6 from the field. As the game progressed, his rebounding and assists increased and he dismantled Denver.
This was a superstar performance from Dončić and a reminder that regardless of their current position in the league, the Lakers have a very bright future with Luka entering his prime.
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Grade: A
Gabe Vincent
17 minutes, 5 points, 3 fouls, 1-2 FG, 1-2 3PT, 2-3 FT, +3
If Vincent’s shot isn’t falling, he doesn’t need to be playing. In this game, his shooting was limited, but his play helped more than it hurt.
Still, the minutes felt like a bit much given what he has provided since returning from his lower back injury.
Grade: C
Jaxson Hayes
23 minutes, 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 fouls, 4-5 FG, 1-4 FT, +16
With Ayton out, Hayes had to step up and he was fantastic. He did what he always does, and that’s score near the rim, be explosive and be a willing defender.
Grade: B+
Rui Hachimura
28 minutes, 9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 fouls, 4-13 FG, 1-3 3PT, -2
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This was the most Hachimura has played since returning from his calf injury. His scoring was efficient, but he looked much better and had a good rebounding game.
If he continues to play this well and no other Lakers step up, don’t be surprised if he’s back in the starting lineup during this road trip.
Grade: B–
Jarred Vanderbilt
18 minutes, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, -2
While Vanderbilt’s strongest qualities are on the defensive side of the ball, he needs to provide some offense as well. In this game, he scored no points and missed both shot attempts. The defense was good, and he gave the Lakers some size, but he needs to do more.
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Grade: C+
Drew Timme
11 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 4-6 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-1 FT, +5
Timme has been taking advantage of his opportunities. He had a great game against the Raptors, and the moment he checked in, he hit a 3-pointer at the top of the key.
He brought some offensive production and positive defensive energy to this game, helping LA earn a rare win in Denver.
Grade: B+
JJ Redick
Redick adjusted well to losing his starting center. He gave Timme more time, and he also made some other good moves, like increasing Hachimura’s minutes.
While Redick played 10 guys, he still ran a tight rotation, with everyone who played logging at least 10 minutes.
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Grade: A
Tuesday’s DNPs: Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, Kobe Bufkin, Bronny James
Tuesday’s inactives: Austin Reaves, Adou Thiero, Chris Mañon
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
