This is what the Lakers imagined when they almost broke the NBA with the trade that brought Luka Doncic in Los Angeles.
Doncic and LeBron James scored 30 points each in the same game for just the third time with his teammates on Friday to help the Lakers resist Memphis Grizzlies 128-121 has Crypto.com Arena. Doncic led the way with 34 points, using 17 of 20 shooting from the free throw line to maintain his NBA-best scoring average, while James had 31 points on 12 of 18 shooting with nine rebounds and six assists.
Advertisement
The Lakers (21-11) needed James, 41, to be at his best. They squandered leads of 13 and 15 points in the first and second quarters, respectively, but put together a timely 12-2 run in the fourth to improve their record in the deciding games to 11-0.
“It seemed like almost every time we needed a bucket, he just wanted it.” coach JJ Redick said of James, “from driving the basketball, to getting to the paint, to getting on two feet, and he was just phenomenal tonight.”
Here are three takeaways from this victory:
Jake LaRavia stars in his role
Laker Jake LaRavia celebrates his three-pointer against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday at Crypto.com Arena. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
James and Doncic led the way, but another player set the loudest tone of the night.
Advertisement
“Obviously it started with Jake,” James said.
Jake LaRavia scored 21 points, hitting three of his six three-point attempts, with nine rebounds, two steals and one block. In the starting lineup for injured Rui Hachimura (calf), LaRavia provided the spark of energy needed by the defense while throwing his shot early to add punch.
“When I just talk about roles and how many hats I can wear with this team, some nights this is what happens,” LaRavia said. “Other nights I’m that defender, that connector, that crasher, like all that kind of stuff. So I just continue to play with confidence throughout, but I also understand what my role is going to be every game.”
The Lakers coveted the 6-foot-7, 24-year-old forward during the offseason for his versatility on defense and his three-point shooting on offense. He scored his first three-pointer on Friday. Then he nailed another mid-range jumper 28 seconds later. He had 11 points in the first quarter and 18 in the first half.
Advertisement
Learn more: “Who is number 12?” Jake LaRavia let Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves know during Lakers victory
LaRavia knew almost instantly that it could finally be her night again.
LaRavia hadn’t scored 20 points in a game since Nov. 2, as his playing time fluctuated based on the Lakers’ ever-changing injury report. He’s also shooting a career-low 30.9% from three after shooting 42.3% from long range last season.
But LaRavia asked his teammates to maintain their faith in him as he worked with assistant coach Beau Levesque to refine his shot again.
“He says, ‘Control the inputs and the results will see themselves,’” LaRavia said of the coach. “So that’s kind of what I’m doing right now. I’m just working on my shot, starting with the basics, and going from there. And, you know, hopefully I can get my rhythm back. And tonight was just the beginning.”
Advertisement
Friday was LaRavia’s first game with three three-pointers since Oct. 29, when he made five of six against the Timberwolves, prompting the viral moment where fans shout “Who’s #12?”
Jaxson Hayes gets the final nod
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes screams as he dives in front of Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. and center Jock Landale during the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on Friday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Last year, Jaxson Hayes watched the Lakers’ season end from the bench after being knocked out of the playoff rotation in the first round against Minnesota. The 7-foot center started the first four games of the playoffs, but never played more than 10 minutes in each as his role dwindled to not playing at all during the decisive Game 5.
After the bench, Hayes said he had something to prove this season.
Advertisement
He made a loud statement on Tuesday, winning the final minutes starter Deandre Ayton. Hayes played 11 minutes and nine seconds of the tight fourth quarter and finished with 13 points on five-of-six shooting.
Ayton had four points and six rebounds, but the Lakers were outscored by one during his 24 minutes, 49 seconds, compared to a plus-eight margin during Hayes’ 23 minutes, 11 seconds.
“He was playing better,” Redick said of the decision to face Hayes late in the game.
Learn more: Luka Doncic, LeBron James help fuel Lakers surge in win over Grizzlies
Hayes has 25 points on 10-of-11 shooting in the last two games since returning from an ankle injury. Defensively, Hayes added two steals, two rebounds and a block on Friday. Hayes is shooting a career-best 78%, but he doesn’t qualify for the league’s official rankings with just 64 completions on 82 attempts.
Advertisement
Doncic praised Hayes for his improvement in the pick-and-roll, noting how the center finds “the right pocket” while Doncic handles the ball.
“His ability to control the paint for us has been huge,” the guard said Smart Marcuswho flirted with a triple-double with 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. “…His ability to get the ball at the highest point when we’re throwing it and then change shots defensively, whether he’s blocking them or just changing shots for us, allows our defense to get it even more from our guards. Having that urgency that he brings, it’s huge.”
Dalton Knecht will benefit from more playing time
Lakers forward Dalton Knecht extends to shoot the ball while being guarded by Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena. (Caroline Brehman / Associated Press)
The diminished defense headlined the Lakers’ struggles in December, but the offense was also out of sync during the Lakers’ 5-7 month. They were ranked 18th in offensive rating in December and shot 33.9% from three-point range, which ranked them 25th in the league.
Advertisement
With several of the team’s best shooters currently injured, Redick opens the door for a second-year forward. Dalton Knecht to get back into the rotation. Knecht will get “consistent” playing time over the next few weeks, Redick said, but he won’t be judged solely on his shooting percentage as he tries to stay in the lineup.
“Play hard,” Redick said before the game about what Knecht must do to stay in the lineup. “That’s what’s been most important for him all season. He’s not going to be judged on whether he makes or misses shots. That helps. When you go through a period and you feel like your team isn’t playing hard, you have to play against the guys who are consistently playing hard.”
Learn more: Plaschke: Thanks to the LA sports teams for saving me during the worst year
Knecht was scoreless in 10 minutes, 47 seconds against the Grizzlies, missing both of his three-point attempts and scoring on a turnover.
Advertisement
Knecht is shooting 37.3 percent from three in his short NBA career, but has struggled to stay in the lineup due to defensive lapses. He picked up Maxi Kleber’s minutes at the end of the Lakers’ rotation after not playing the first half of a game since Dec. 23 against Phoenix, a blowout loss.
The Lakers are hollowing out their bench as injuries pile up. Austin Reaves remains out at least three more weeks due to calf strain. Forward Adou Thiero was diagnosed with a right MCL sprain on New Year’s Eve and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Guard Gabe Vincent is close to returning from a back injury that cost him seven games. The Lakers hope he can be available for at least one of their upcoming road games, Redick said, against New Orleans on Tuesday or at San Antonio on Wednesday.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.
This story was originally published in Los Angeles Times.
