Jake LaRavia Brings Early Energy, Leads Way in Win vs. Grizzlies.
Luka Doncic and LeBron James scored 30-plus points each as the Lakers topped the Grizzlies 128-121.
Jake LaRavia, starting for injured Rui Hachimura, set the early tone with 21 points, nine rebounds and three three-pointers.
Jaxson Hayes earned the closing minutes over starter Deandre Ayton, finishing with 13 points on excellent shooting in the tight fourth quarter.
This is what the Lakers imagined when they nearly broke the NBA with the trade that brought Luka Doncic to L.A.
Doncic and LeBron James scored 30 points apiece during the same game for just the third time as teammates Friday to help the Lakers hold off the Memphis Grizzlies 128-121 at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic led the way with 34 points, using 17 of 20 shooting from the free-throw line to maintain his NBA-leading scoring average, while James had 31 points on 12 of 18 shooting with nine rebounds and six assists.
The Lakers (21-11) needed 41-year-old James to be at his best. They squandered 13- and 15-point leads in the first and second quarters, respectively, but pieced together a timely 12-2 run in the fourth to improve their record in clutch games to 11-0.
“It felt like nearly every time we needed a bucket, he just kind of willed [it],” coach JJ Redick said of James, “whether it was driving the basketball, getting to the paint, getting to two feet, and he was just was phenomenal tonight.”
Here are three takeaways from the win:
James and Doncic led the way, but another player set the strongest tone for the night.
“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 a block. In the starting lineup for the injured Rui Hachimura (calf), LaRavia delivered the necessary spark of energy on defense while also getting his shot going early to add a scoring punch.
“When I just talk about roles and the amount of hats that I can wear with this team, some nights, this is what happens,” LaRavia said. “Other nights I’m that defender, connector, crasher, like all that kind of stuff. So just continuing to to play confidently throughout but also understanding what my role is going to be each 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 hit his first three-pointer on Friday. Then he nailed another midrange jumper 28 seconds later. He had 11 points in the first quarter and 18 in the first half.
LaRavia knew almost instantly it could finally be his night again.
LaRavia hadn’t scored 20 points in a game since Nov. 2 as his splaying time has fluctuated with the Lakers’ ever-changing injury report. He is also shooting a career-low 30.9% from three after shooting 42.3% from long distance last season.
But LaRavia asked his teammates to maintain their confidence in him as he worked with assistant coach Beau Levesque to fine tune his shot again.
“He says, ‘Control the input and the output is going to show for itself,’” 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 again, and just kind of going from there. And, you know, hopefully I can find my rhythm again. And tonight was just the start.”
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 of fans shouting “Who is No. 12?”
Last year, Jaxson Hayes watched the Lakers’ season end from the bench after he fell out of the playoff rotation in the first round against Minnesota. The 7-foot center started the first four playoff games, but never played more than 10 minutes in each as his role dwindled to not playing at all in the decisive Game 5.
After the benching, Hayes said he had something to prove this season.
He made a loud statement Tuesday, earning the closing minutes over starter Deandre Ayton. Hayes played 11 minutes and nine seconds of the tight fourth quarter and finished with13 points on five-of-six shooting.
