Doncic and LeBron send a message

A calm day, full of positive energy and good vibes. The Lakers needed it so badly that, for once, it barely mattered that the opponent was the Sacramento Kings (now 8–24) – a depleted team that always seems a step and a bit away from deep unhappiness, playing without Domantas Sabonis (for some time now) or Zach LaVine. And one that, despite being among the NBA’s worst, continues to let almost everything run through a 36-year-old like DeMar DeRozan – at this stage of his extraordinary career, a kind of scoring zombie – and a 37-year-old Russell Westbrook who, on top of that, did not exactly enjoy his visit to what is probably the former team he most wants to beat: 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, with six turnovers and 6-for-17 shooting. One of those Westbrook games.

In short, there was no denying that the Kings arrived carrying part of the medicine a battered Lakers team needed – a group that looked slightly sunk, even though January had not yet arrived. After three straight defeats, all of them ugly and capped by the appalling Christmas Day collapse against the Rockets, there were a couple of days in which the narrative shifted. JJ Redick alternated between harsh criticism and calls for unity, as the conversation revolved around recalibration, around searching for the soul of a team that seemed to have lost it. To make matters worse, they had also received the bad news that Austin Reaves would be out for more than a month – a player not only excellent and vital to what the team does well, but also one of the few who still looked happy, smiling on the floor.

Luka engaged, LeBron intense

The Lakers won, 125–101, and finally enjoyed a peaceful night. In part because the opponent was the Kings, as noted. But they did manage at least a small recalibration: their first home win by more than 20 points this season and a +24 margin overall, matching their best figure of the year. They looked wounded but not dead, a team seemingly eager to try some solutions. Luka Dončić appeared more engaged defensively, with more energy and less inclination to complain. LeBron James was efficient and intense. Dončić finished with 34 points, five rebounds and seven assists; James with 24, three and five. Between them, 12 assists for seven turnovers – progress, at least. LeBron also went a near-perfect 11-for-13 from the field, an 84.6% clip that marked his best shooting night as a Laker (since 2018) and the third-best of his seemingly endless career (23 seasons in the NBA; he turns 41 tomorrow). “I’m in a full-on battle with Father Time, and I’d like to say I’m kicking his ass,” he said.

Even more interesting were Dončić’s words about the responsibility he and No. 23 must assume to keep the ship afloat: “We have to show what we’re capable of. If we’re going to move forward, we have to pull the wagon and let the others follow.” This time, the others did. Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart (scoreless) and a solid Jake LaRavia did their jobs, without being overly tested against an opponent lacking real ammunition. Nick Smith Jr. also made the most of Reaves’ absence: 21 points and 5-for-10 from three, providing an instant spark in under 25 minutes. The rotation needs more scoring and perimeter play right now, and Smith Jr. is likely to get more chances like this – which could make him important, even if he is more a feel player than a high-IQ one. When he’s hot, he’s an excellent contributor; when the shots aren’t falling, his game shrinks to almost nothing.

Things had gotten so bleak, morale so shaken, that a workmanlike win like this serves as a release valve. How revitalizing it truly is remains to be seen, because next up at Crypto.com Arena are the Pistons, leaders of their conference but coming off losses to the Jazz and Clippers and deep into a long Western road trip. That will be another story. Today’s story is simpler: even if this was not a game of exceptional demands – to put it gently – the team responded, showed it wants to be there, and allowed itself a quiet night, with a score that was never in danger after a 13–2 run to open the third quarter made it 81–55, an obviously decisive margin. For all that has gone wrong in recent days, the Lakers sit at a healthy 20–10, fourth in the West. It all depends on how you choose to see the glass.

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