Basketball - Los Angeles Lakers news

• Recap: Lakers Come Back To Beat Grizzlies For Second Straight Win

  05-01-2026 06:09 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers kicked off 2026 on a high note by beating the Memphis Grizzlies at home. They looked to carry that momentum into Sunday night’s rematch as the Grizzlies returned to Crypto.com Arena for the second straight game.
  Both teams continued to be severely shorthanded, but ultimately the Lakers picked up another win, coming back to earn a 120-114 victory.
  Deandre Ayton has been frustrated with his recently lack of touches, so the Lakers made it a point to get him the ball on
  
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• JJ Redick Calls Out Lakers For Lack Of Execution On ATOs

  04-01-2026 21:45 via lakersnation.com
  
  One could argue JJ Redick is in for his first major challenge as an NBA head coach with the Los Angeles Lakers.
  His team has not been great defensively, inconsistent offensively and is currently last in bench scoring. Los Angeles has shown flashes of improvement on defense, but there is still more work to be done in that area.
  In terms of offense, Redick was not satisfied with the execution of plays against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. After their film review on Saturday, the second-ye
  
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• Lakers News: JJ Redick Insinuates Deandre Ayton Frustrated With Lack Of Touches

  04-01-2026 20:45 via lakersnation.com
  
  Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies marked the first time Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was benched in the fourth quarter in favor of Jaxson Hayes.
  To begin this season, Ayton was a steady offensive option and essentially a walking double-double for L.A. His mid-range game was operating at a high rate and if he got post touches, he was finishing with ease.
  Against Memphis though, the starting big man only put up four points and six rebounds in 25 minutes. And in the game before
  
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• Lakers News: JJ Redick Wants To See Dalton Knecht Play Hard During Minutes

  04-01-2026 18:03 via lakersnation.com
  
  Dalton Knecht finds himself in an interesting position with the Los Angeles Lakers, as he has yet to solidify a role for himself this season.
  After being a part of that rescinded trade to the Charlotte Hornets, Knecht’s confidence was clearly shaken. As a shooter of his caliber, confidence is vital to providing production as a spacer, but it never returned last season.
  To begin his sophomore season, there was a belief that Knecht would be in a better headspace. Yet through preseason and sp
  
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• Marcus Smart Believes Having Veterans Has Helped Lakers Win Clutch Games

  04-01-2026 17:04 via lakersnation.com
  
  Having veterans is an integral piece to becoming a championship team in the NBA and the Los Angeles Lakers added one in Marcus Smart this past offseason to bring energy and effort.
  Those early dividends paid off to begin this season, but Los Angeles’ success came screeching to a halt these past couple of weeks. An interesting stat is that all 11 of their losses have been by double digits, so they have not managed to overcome deficits well.
  However, if L.A. can keep it close in crunch time,
  
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• Lakers News: LeBron James Compares Luka Doncic & Himself To Quarterback & Receiver

  04-01-2026 16:02 via lakersnation.com
  
  With injuries mounting for the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James and Luka Doncic are now the two stars who need to man the ship. While those two are capable of doing so, L.A. has not been playing at a high level lately.
  After closing out 2025 with a disappointing blowout loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Lakers hoped for better results in a new year. To kick off 2026, Los Angeles faced a struggling but feisty Memphis Grizzlies team with a healthy Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
  Granted, it was not
  
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• Lakers News: NBA Brought In Massive Ratings On Christmas Day

  04-01-2026 15:00 via lakersnation.com
  
  Christmas Day is a marquee event in the NBA calendar as teams like to be on a grand stage with everyone watched. This year featured intriguing matchups, with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers notably hosting Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.
  That was in addition to plenty of stars featured with rookie phenom Cooper Flagg, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama, among other. Last year, ratings were a hotly debated topic as the NFL tri
  
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• Lakers News: LeBron James & Luka Doncic Praise Impact Of Jarred Vanderbilt

  03-01-2026 20:55 via lakersnation.com
  
  Jarred Vanderbilt was removed from the Los Angeles Lakers rotation after struggling to start the season. Head coach JJ Redick made the decision because his offensive deficiencies outweighed the defensive energy he brought to the floor. But when the Lakers were struggling to get stops with the role players they had surrounding Luka Doncic and LeBron James, Redick brought Vanderbilt back into the mix.Not only was his infusion of energy immediately noticed, but he also had some stunning improvement
  
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• Lakers News: Luka Doncic Explains Biggest Improvement From Jaxson Hayes This Season

  03-01-2026 20:10 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers signing center Deandre Ayton to a two-year contract meant a return to the bench for big man Jaxson Hayes. The seven-footer excelled next to Luka Doncic immediately following the blockbuster trade last season, but proved that he cannot be a starting center in a championship-caliber rotation.The hope from the Lakers that a return to his traditional bench role would allow him to maximize his talents and efforts, and that has mostly been the case this season. He broke past tha
  
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• JJ Redick: LeBron James Was ‘Phenomenal’ In Lakers Win Over Grizzlies

  03-01-2026 18:57 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers got back in the win column on Friday night with a 128-121 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. L.A. got the win despite missing Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent, with head coach JJ Redick turning to Jake LaRavia and Jaxson Hayes for more expanded roles. LeBron James was one of the heroes of the night for the Lakers.He finished with 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and six assists. It was one of LeBron’s best games of the 2025-
  
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• Lakers News: Jake LaRavia Continuing To Trust Jump Shot Despite Struggles

  03-01-2026 17:04 via lakersnation.com
  
  Jake LaRavia got off to a start start in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, establishing himself as a solid two-way wing off the bench.
  It didn’t take long for head coach JJ Redick to trust LaRavia on both ends of the floor as he was often a staple of lineups alongside the stars and held up well guarding scoring wings. While LaRavia will never be a household name, he’s an ideal glue guy on a Los Angeles roster that needs people who can fill in multiple gaps.
  LaRavia unfort
  
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• Lakers Injury Update: Gabe Vincent To Practice On Saturday & Potentially Return On Upcoming Road Trip

  03-01-2026 16:02 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers have been banged up the past few weeks as several rotation players like Gabe Vincent have been sidelined due to injuries.
  Vincent has missed time recently due to a lower back injury, though he also suffered an ankle injury earlier in the 2025-26 season that also forced him out of the lineup as well. It’s been a frustrating season for the veteran guard thus far as he has yet to build a consistent rhythm with the rest of the roster.
  In Vincent’s absence, head coa
  
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• Lakers Highlights: LeBron James, Luka Doncic & Jake LaRavia Lead Way Against Grizzlies

  03-01-2026 15:00 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers have started to fall back down to Earth in recent weeks as matchups against playoff-bound teams have given them trouble.
  Fortunately, the Lakers had a great opportunity to bounce back as they hosted the Memphis Grizzlies to kick off 2026. Los Angeles already picked up a win against Memphis earlier in the regular season, so the team had to feel good about its chances of repeating that success.
  It looked like the Lakers were going to cruise to a win as they dropped almost 40
  
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• Recap: Lakers Close Out Grizzlies To Begin 2026 On High Note

  03-01-2026 07:00 via lakersnation.com
  
  After a rough month of December, the Los Angeles Lakers were looking to get back on track to start the new year when they hosted the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.
  Both teams were missing a number of key contributors due to injury, but it was the Lakers that came out on top with a 128-121 win to improve their record to 21-11.
  Marcus Smart kicked off the scoring with a 3-pointer against his former team, and then Christian Koloko had a dunk against a former team of his own.
  After that though i
  
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• Lakers Injury Update: Jarred Vanderbilt Available Vs. Grizzlies

  03-01-2026 02:26 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers announced that forward Jarred Vanderbilt (right leg soreness) has been upgraded to available for Friday night’s contest against the Memphis Grizzlies after originally being listed as questionable.
  This is great news for the Lakers as Vanderbilt has become an integral part of the Lakers rotation over the past month. His energy is even more needed as Austin Reaves (left calf strain), Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness), Gabe Vincent (lumbar back strain) and Adou Thiero
  
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• Lakers News: LeBron James Reveals Advice He Would Give To 18-Year Old Self

  02-01-2026 21:35 via lakersnation.com
  
  The life and career of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is truly something that no one will ever witness or experience ever again. From being the most hyped prospect in the history of basketball, if not American sports period, to joining the NBA at 18 and surpassing those wild expectations, and now still being an excellent player at a stage of his career that no one else has even reached, 23 years in the league.
  As is the case with any human being, the person James is now is not the sam
  
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• Lakers Video: Magic Johnson Serves As Grand Marshal Of Rose Parade

  02-01-2026 20:41 via lakersnation.com
  
  Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson is not only one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the franchise, and basketball period, but he has also been a fixture of the Los Angeles community for many decades. As such, Johnson being selected as the Grand Marshal of the 137th Rose Parade was an honor he was more than deserving of.
  Of course, the weather in Southern California has not been cooperative over the past couple of weeks, but that didn’t stop Magic from being there a
  
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• Lakers Video: Cade Cunningham Includes LeBron James, Kobe Bryant & Shaquille O’Neal In All-Time Starting 5

  02-01-2026 18:41 via lakersnation.com
  
  As the Los Angeles Lakers begin a new chapter in their history, Luka Doncic is expected to be the face of it. But LeBron James remains in the fold until further notice, which makes for an intriguing situation.
  James is in his 23rd season and the expectation is that he has at least a year left in his playing career. Ideally, L.A. can win a championship to add to Doncic’s resume and strengthen James’ case as an all-time great against Michael Jordan.
  As new faces enter the NBA, many wer
  
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• Lakers News: Vanessa Bryant Thanks Taylor Swift For Wearing Kobe Bryant Mamba Sweater In Docuseries

  02-01-2026 16:02 via lakersnation.com
  
  The legacy of the late, great Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant continues to shine well beyond his tragic passing thanks in large part to his wife Vanessa Bryant and many stars who proudly represent what the legend was all about. One star who has been linked to the Bryant family is perhaps the biggest music star on earth in Taylor Swift.
  It wasn’t too long ago that Swift gifted her ’22’ hat to Kobe’s daughter, Bianka, during her historic Eras tour and it is well known t
  
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• Lakers News: Luka Doncic Has ‘Learned A Lot’ Playing Alongside LeBron James

  02-01-2026 15:00 via lakersnation.com
  
  The moment the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Luka Doncic, they were pairing two of the greatest playmakers the NBA has ever seen. LeBron James is undoubtedly one of the greatest passers in the history of the league while Doncic is one of the true premier playmakers of this generation.
  Some questioned whether they would be able to play together, but LeBron didn’t hesitate to cease control to Luka and embrace a more off-ball role. Additionally, with both being such high IQ players, they were a
  
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• Lakers Video: Luka Doncic Drops Video Recapping His Wild 2025 To Celebrate New Year

  01-01-2026 21:21 via lakersnation.com
  
  The year of 2025 will go down perhaps the most pivotal in the career of Luka Doncic. The superstar guard was traded in perhaps the most shocking blockbuster trade not only in basketball, but arguably in all of sports, going from the Dallas Mavericks to the premier franchise in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers.
  That, of course, went down in February and there was plenty that happened for Doncic both on and off the court. It has been an emotional roller coaster for Luka, who has been open about how
  
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• Mark Williams Still Holds Grudge Against Lakers For Rescinded Traded

  01-01-2026 20:47 via lakersnation.com
  
  When the Los Angeles Lakers swung the blockbuster trade to land superstar guard Luka Doncic last season, the front office knew they needed some reinforcements inside after sending away Anthony Davis in the deal. And it didn’t take long for them to do so as the Lakers agreed to a trade for then-Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams.
  However, in a surprising move, the deal that would’ve brought Williams to the Lakers in exchange for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish and draft picks, was resc
  
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• Rich Paul Pushes Back On Idea That Klutch Sports Had Control Over Lakers

  01-01-2026 18:20 via lakersnation.com
  
  Most would credit LeBron James with inspiring what has come to be known as the player empowerment era of the NBA. James understood the power that he held as a franchise superstar and in the eyes of many, he alongside Klutch Sports co-founder Rich Paul, had no problem throwing that power around during his stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and even the Los Angeles Lakers.
  Many felt that Klutch Sports held some sway over the Lakers as Anthony Davis forced a trade to the franchise, and
  
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• Jaxson Hayes: Lakers Need To Keep Stepping Up To Make Up For Injuries

  01-01-2026 16:05 via lakersnation.com
  
  Most of the attention surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers goes towards the team’s superstars of Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Whether it is positive or negative, they get the glory more often than not, and rightfully so. But this season has seen a number of role players have to step up, primarily due to injury.
  The Lakers have barely had their full complement of players healthy this season and injuries, not only to the superstar trio, but to other rotation pieces, have forced
  
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• LeBron James Won’t Use Injuries As Excuse For Lakers’ Struggles

  01-01-2026 15:00 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers have dealt with a multitude of injuries this season that have really hindered them after a strong start to the year. Austin Reaves is out at least a month, LeBron James missed the first part of the year, and the team’s role players have been in and out with minor ailments all season long.
  These constant changes to the lineup and rotations have made it difficult for the Lakers to establish a consistent rhythm and really nail down who they are as a team. The team&rsquo
  
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• Lakers Injury Update: Adou Thiero To Be Re-Evaluated In 4 Weeks With Right MCL Sprain

  01-01-2026 11:00 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers announced rookie forward Adou Thiero has been diagnosed with a right MCL sprain. He will be re-evaluated by team doctors in approximately four weeks.
  It’s unclear when Thiero injured his knee, but it is worth nothing that he recently worked his way back from left knee surgery, which forced him to miss Summer League, the preseason and the start of the regular season.
  The Lakers have been cautious with Thiero in his rookie season to make sure his body was 100% healthy
  
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• Luka Doncic: Lakers Could’ve Matched Pistons’ Physicality Better

  31-12-2025 20:45 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers ended 2025 with yet another blowout loss, this time to the Detroit Pistons. Luka Doncic led the way with 30 points and 11 assists and the Lakers stuck with Detroit for most of three quarters before getting dominated in the fourth as things fell apart.
  The Pistons own the best record in the Eastern Conference on the back of an extremely physical style of play, one that the Pistons franchise is traditionally known for. And while Doncic feels the Lakers played well for three
  
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• JJ Redick Believes Lakers Are Still Trying To Figure Out Their Identity

  31-12-2025 20:28 via lakersnation.com
  
  After a strong start, the Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of their roughest stretch of the season so far. After yet another blowout loss, this time to the Detroit Pistons, JJ Redick’s squad is heading into 2026 having lost four of their last five games and seven of their last 12, all coming by double-digits.Injuries have certainly played their part in changing the course of the Lakers season. Austin Reaves is out at least a month and LeBron James missed the first 14 games of the year,
  
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• Lakers News: LeBron James Willing To Play More On-Ball

  31-12-2025 19:34 via lakersnation.com
  
  LeBron James has taken on a completely different role this season for the Los Angeles Lakers. After missing the first 14 games of the year, James has mostly played off-ball role with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves being the primary creators for the team.
  With both Doncic and Reaves playing at such a high level this year, and James’ improvements as a shooter, the move made sense. But with Reaves out at least a month, the Lakers will likely need LeBron to return to that familiar role as a pri
  
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• Luka Doncic Admits To ‘Too Many Turnovers’ In Lakers Loss To Pistons

  31-12-2025 17:04 via lakersnation.com
  
  Luka Doncic has been the focal point of the Los Angeles Lakers’ offense during the 2025-26 season, though he’s had to pick up even more offensive responsibility with Austin Reaves out with a calf injury.
  Doncic is no stranger to having the basketball in his hands, so the extra usage shouldn’t be a problem. But against the Detroit Pistons, even he had trouble finding room to operate. The Pistons own the best record in the Eastern Conference and they showed why as they constantly
  
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• JJ Redick Explains How Lakers’ Loss To Pistons Was ‘Deflating’

  31-12-2025 16:02 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers looked like they might have turned a corner after snapping their three-game losing streak with a win over the Sacramento Kings. The Lakers had an opportunity to make a statement to end 2025 as they hosted the Detroit Pistons, who currently own the best record in the Eastern Conference.
  The Pistons entered the matchup on their own skid after losing two games in a row, so they were definitely motivated to turn things around against the Lakers. This season, teams that have be
  
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• Lakers Injury News: Rui Hachimura To Miss One Week With Right Calf Soreness

  31-12-2025 15:00 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled to stay healthy during the 2025-26 season and the hits keep on coming as Rui Hachimura is the latest player to land on the injury report.
  Hachimura was ruled out for the Lakers’ game against the Detroit Pistons due to a calf injury. Hachimura joined Gabe Vincent and Austin Reaves, who were also unavailable due to back and calf injuries, respectively.
  Hachimura looked fine physically in Los Angeles’ win against the Sacramento Kings as he played 26
  
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• Recap: Lakers Close Out 2025 With Blowout Loss To Pistons

  31-12-2025 07:15 via lakersnation.com
  
  Looking to build off their win over the Sacramento Kings, the Los Angeles Lakers closed out the calendar year by hosting the Detroit Pistons, the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference.
  The Pistons are the exact type of young and athletic team that the Lakers have struggled with, and that continued in this one as L.A. suffered a 128-106 loss to drop to 20-11.
  LeBron James was celebrating his 41st birthday and did so by kicking off the game with two assists to Deandre Ayton and Jake
  
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• Lakers News: Luka Doncic Looking To Get Teammates Involved At Start Of Games

  30-12-2025 20:15 via lakersnation.com
  
  Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic has typically set the tone at the start of games as he is leading the league in first-quarter scoring by a wide margin at 12.0 points per game.
  With the team on a three-game losing streak though, Doncic shifted his mentality on Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings, only taking six shots while dishing out three assists in the first quarter.
  That helped get the Lakers back on track as they were locked in from the jump and cruised to an easy win.
  After the v
  
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• Lakers News: Jarred Vanderbilt Believes LeBron James’ IQ Separates Him From Peers

  30-12-2025 19:12 via lakersnation.com
  
  At 41 years old, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is doing things no other player in NBA history has ever done.
  James may be declining from an athleticism standpoint, but he remains as effective as ever thanks to his ability to play multiple roles. Luka Doncic may be the face of the franchise, but James is its most versatile player as he can do whatever the team needs to win.
  Jarred Vanderbilt, freshly reinserted back into the rotation, has been key in helping the Lakers turn their defense a
  
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• Lakers News: JJ Redick Wants Nick Smith Jr. To Be Aggressive

  30-12-2025 18:06 via lakersnation.com
  
  Luka Doncic led the way and LeBron James had another strong outing, but it was two-way contract player Nick Smith Jr. who gave the Los Angeles Lakers an extra boost in their win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night to snap their three-game losing streak.
  Smith dropped 21 points in 24 minutes off the bench, including knocking down five 3-pointers in the victory. With Austin Reaves out due to injury, as well as veteran reserve Gabe Vincent, head coach JJ Redick turned to Smith for his scoring
  
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• Lakers News: JJ Redick Calls LeBron James ‘Remarkable’ Ahead Of 41st Birthday

  30-12-2025 17:04 via lakersnation.com
  
  Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is the oldest player in the NBA but he continues to defy Father Time as he remains one of the league’s best players.James has always been at his best with the basketball in his hands, but he’s been willing to cede control to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. However, with Reaves out James has stepped back into a primary role and is committed to doing whatever the team needs in his absence.Head coach JJ Redick is fortunate to have James back healthy a
  
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• Jake LaRavia Pleased With Lakers’ Response After Being Called Out In Film Session

  30-12-2025 16:02 via lakersnation.com
  
  After three consecutive blowout losses, the Los Angeles Lakers badly needed a get-right game and that was exactly what they got on Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings. Luka Doncic and LeBron James led the way, but the entire team contributed in the 125-101 blowout victory over a shorthanded Kings team.
  There were a couple of rotational tweaks, but Jake LaRavia was the Lakers’ leader in minutes off the bench and was one of six players in double-figures. And overall, the forward felt t
  
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• On 41st Birthday, LeBron James Feels He Is Winning Battle With Father Time

  30-12-2025 15:00 via lakersnation.com
  
  Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James turns 41 on Tuesday and is in the middle of his 23rd NBA season. That alone is an unprecedented feat never-before accomplished by any player in league history. But it doesn’t even account for the fact that in his final game as a 40-year-old, James dropped 24 points on 11-of-13 from the field with several highlight-reel dunks.LeBron was on the receiving end of two incredible lobs, and had arguably the play of the game with a fastbreak reverse slam. James
  
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• Lakers Injury Report: Rui Hachimura & Gabe Vincent Out, Jaxson Hayes Returns Against Pistons

  30-12-2025 02:09 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for their Tuesday matchup with the Detroit Pistons and Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness), Austin Reaves (left gastrocnemius strain) and Gabe Vincent (lumbar back strain) are out while Jaxson Hayes (left ankle soreness) is available to return.
  Hachimura missed practice on Monday due to the calf injury and will now miss a game, although head coach JJ Redick made it seem like it was a minor issue that wouldn’t keep him out long.
  Vincent ha
  
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• 2026 NBA All-Star Voting Returns: Lakers’ Luka Doncic Leading Way, LeBron James & Austin Reaves In Top 10

  29-12-2025 19:31 via lakersnation.com
  
  Coming into the season, many expected Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Luka Doncic to have his best years to date. Getting himself into outstanding shape in the offseason and having extra motivation after being traded away last season, there was a lot of anticipation for Doncic coming into the year.
  Thankfully, Doncic has been all that and more as he leads the NBA in scoring while ranking in the top five in both assists and steals. With voting underway for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, Doncic is
  
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• Lakers News: Nick Smith Jr. Remained Confident, Ready To Make Most Of Opportunity

  29-12-2025 19:02 via lakersnation.com
  
  With the Los Angeles Lakers missing both Austin Reaves and Gabe Vincent — the former for at least four weeks — Nick Smith Jr. knew that his number was going to be called. This was made especially obvious after head coach JJ Redick said changes would be coming to the Lakers rotation.Smith received 24 minutes of game action on Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings. He played the sixth-most minutes of any Laker and received the second-most minutes off the bench beside Jake LaRavia&r
  
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• Lakers News: JJ Redick Plans To Stick With Luka Doncic Rotational Shift

  29-12-2025 18:09 via lakersnation.com
  
  Before Sunday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick signaled that some changes may be coming to the team’s rotation after three consecutive losses. Obviously, they would not have Austin Reaves for these changes, as well, as he was ruled out for at least the next four weeks with a calf strain. And it seems one of the major changes involved Luka Doncic.Doncic usually plays for the entirety of the first quarter, then takes a rest at the start
  
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• LeBron James Willing To Do ‘Whatever’s Needed’ For Lakers In Austin Reaves’ Absence

  29-12-2025 17:25 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers played their first game Sunday night since the announcement that star guard Austin Reaves would miss at least the next four weeks due to a calf strain. This puts extra responsibility on Luka Doncic and LeBron James, who played extremely well in their blowout win over the Sacramento Kings.Doncic led the way with 34 points, adding in five rebounds, seven assists and three steals, while James had one of his most efficient games of the season. He scored 24 points on 11-of-13 f
  
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• Lakers News: Luke Doncic Acknowledges Effort Needs To Start With Himself & LeBron James

  29-12-2025 16:02 via lakersnation.com
  
  Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic has seemingly slowed down a bit after his hot offensive start to the 2025-26 season. Doncic endured a rough shooting slump and in turn the Lakers dropped three consecutive games for the first time during the season.
  Entering the matchup against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, Doncic and the rest of the Lakers had the look and feel of a team that was desperate to snap a losing streak. From the opening tip, Los Angeles was active on both ends of the floor
  
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• Lakers Highlights: LeBron James & Luka Doncic Lead Rout Against Kings

  29-12-2025 15:00 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers entered their Sunday night matchup against the Sacramento Kings riding a three-game losing streak, the longest of the 2025-26 season.
  Head coach JJ Redick noted that the team would be in for an uncomfortable practice following their embarrassing loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day, so all eyes were on the Lakers when the game tipped off on Sunday. Unlike the previous three contests, Los Angeles was active on both ends of the floor. It had been a while since the La
  
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• Recap: Lakers Blow Out Kings To End Skid

  29-12-2025 05:55 via lakersnation.com
  
  After three straight blowout losses, the Los Angeles Lakers were looking to get back on track on Sunday night when they hosted the Sacramento Kings.
  The Lakers remained shorthanded without Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent and Jaxson Hayes in the lineup, but there were still able to handle business, cruising to a 125-101 victory to snap their losing streak and improve to 20-10 on the year.
  LeBron James was playing with nice energy to start as he had six early points, including an emphatic dunk to give
  
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• Rui Hachimura Confident Lakers Can Turn Things Around

  28-12-2025 21:20 via lakersnation.com
  
  Dating back to the summer, a popular debate in the Los Angeles Lakers community was if they would keep Rui Hachimura as their fifth starter or if they would get a defensive-minded player like Marcus Smart in there to complement the stars.
  However, head coach JJ Redick has opted to start Hachimura when the team has been at or near full strength. While a starting lineup of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Hachimura and Deandre Ayton sounds great offensively, they have struggled defensivel
  
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• Deandre Ayton Willing To Hold Himself & Lakers Accountable On Defense

  28-12-2025 20:50 via lakersnation.com
  
  Since arriving in Los Angeles, Lakers center Deandre Ayton is embracing a new role as a more defensive-minded center. After his previous tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers, head coach JJ Redick centered Ayton’s role around rebounding and protecting the rim.
  Though he has not been perfect, the Lakers did not have a center option like this last year after trading Anthony Davis. The former No. 1 overall pick is safety valve on offense along with showcasing signs of a growing backline defe
  
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• Rui Hachimura & Deandre Ayton Discuss How Lakers Will Make Up For Austin Reaves’ Absence

  28-12-2025 18:20 via lakersnation.com
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers have been dealing with injuries all season and that continues with it being announced that Austin Reaves will miss at least a month of action with a grade 2 calf strain.
  This injury is an unfortunate one as Reaves was in the midst of an All-Star caliber season and is a big reason why the Lakers sit at 19-10. Calf issues are tricky though, so it’s not something the guard can rush back from as that would risk more serious injury.
  In the meantime, the Lakers will need t
  
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