The Lakers underwent some soul-searching at practice Saturday, with coach JJ Redick starting the conversation before allowing players to speak freely about the team’s issues.
It was an attempt by Redick and the team to prevent things from spiraling out of control after three consecutive losses.
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When the Lakers faced the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena, Redick wanted to see players executing on defense and playing harder.
The Lakers did exactly that, with Luka Doncic and LeBron James combining for 58 points and 12 assists in a 125-101 win.
Read more: Lakers ‘recalibrate’ after Austin Reaves injury, three-game losing streak
“I think it definitely starts with us,” said Doncic, who had 34 points, seven assists and five rebounds. “And when AR (Austin Reaves) is back, it’s going to be all three of us. … We need to show what we can do and if we are going to do it, we both are going to do it. The group is going to follow. … I think today just shows that everybody was locked in.”
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For the Lakers, it was more than Doncic finishing with 34 points, seven assists and five rebounds. It was Doncic playing defense, illustrated best when he blocked a shot by DeMar DeRozan. It was Doncic hustling, such as when he dove to the floor for a loose ball.
Asked how the Lakers responded to Redick’s message, Doncic responded, “very well.”
“I think our effort was very high starting the game like that, getting deflections, getting steals, being physical,” Doncic said.
Lakers star Luka Doncic controls the ball in front of Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud during the first half Sunday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
The win was more than James scoring 24 points and handing out five assists. It was James throwing down a reverse dunk and offering words of wisdom to teammates while also shooting 11 for 13 from the field.
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Like Doncic, James was pleased with how things turned out.
“I thought it was a good response,” James said. “I think no matter who is coming into your building, no matter the record of whoever, you have to go out and play the game. The game is won between the four lines. So, I thought we executed that and it was one of the better games we had this year.”
And it also was reserve Nick Smith Jr. finding a role in the rotation and producing, one of the six Lakers scoring in double figures. Smith had 21 points on eight-for-14 shooting, making five of 10 threes.
Lakers star LeBron James reacts during a win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Rui Hachimura had 12 points, Deandre Ayton had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Jake LaRavia had 11 points.
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“We played together. We played for each other,” Redick said. “We had probably one of our most consistent games, in terms of 48 minutes of just competitive spirit. A couple possessions there towards the end of the third that we tried to be the Harlem Globetrotters.
“But this is the first game … we’ve had all year that we’ve won all four quarters. So I think that just says a lot about the approach and the consistent mentality that we played with tonight.”
The Lakers (20-10) took control from the start of the third quarter, going on a 13-2 run to give them a 26-point lead that reached as high as 30 in the fourth quarter.
Granted, the Kings (8-24) have the second-worst record in the West and were missing injured stars Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Bradley, three of their top four scorers.
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But the Lakers lost three straight games because of poor defense and an overall effort that Redick described as “terrible.”
And with Austin Reaves out for at least a month because of a calf strain, getting the chance to talk through their issues might end up changing the team’s fortunes.
“It’s the very first thing that we all sat down yesterday and graded ourselves on — was our habits, our communication and our shape,” Redick said. “And the guys all echoed the same thoughts that we haven’t been good.
“For whatever reason, we lost our way a little bit. … But I thought the communication tonight was excellent, particularly on the defensive end.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
