It’s often said that the NBA is a business, but for Jake LaRavia, Sunday night felt personal. Just two nights after helping the Los Angeles Lakers edge out the Memphis Grizzlies, the forward found himself back on the floor against the franchise that drafted him, looking to prove a point.
The Lakers remain undefeated in clutch games with a comeback win against the Grizzlies on Sunday with a 120-114 win. With the win, LA completes the season sweep of Memphis.
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.
The Lakers, despite being down two key players, were still able to beat the Memphis Grizzlies last weekend. Head coach JJ Redick had to make do with what he had, and he put together a perfect plan to make sure they got over the line.
The Los Angeles Lakers are set to take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. Regretfully, Austin Reaves, the Lakers’ third-best star, will still be absent.
Part of what makes the NBA, or any pro sports league, so compelling to watch is the narratives, especially those centered on rivalries. Throughout the decades, the NBA has fostered a number of rivalries, some long-lasting and others short but sweet.
After getting off to the best start since 2020-21, the Los Angeles Lakers have sputtered over the last month. While the Lakers got the New Year off to the right foot, they still have a lot to figure out if they want to make LeBron James‘ likely last season with the franchise memorable.
The Los Angeles Lakers currently sit at 21-11 and in fifth place in the Western Conference standings. Although the Lakers reportedly would like try and upgrade the roster by the NBA trade deadline and acquire a true 3&D wing player, there are obstacles working against that, as per longtime NBA insider Marc Stein.
The Lakers don’t have a patience problem. They have a timing problem. They started the season looking like a team that could hang in the West. Lately, they’ve looked like one trying to figure out how much urgency is too much urgency.
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.
Early this season, Jarred Vanderbilt was on the outside looking in at playing time. Given his offensive limitations, head coach JJ Redick decided it was best to play others ahead of him.
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.
Gabe Vincent’s tenure with the Lakers has been defined by the amount of time he’s not been available rather than anything he’s done on the court. His first season in LA saw him play just 11 games while dealing with a knee injury.
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.
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.
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.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ struggles this season are no longer just about effort, injuries, or chemistry. The numbers openly indicate the lineup choices. According to lineup data with a minimum threshold of 150 possessions, the Lakers’ most-used starting five ranks as the fifth-worst five-man unit in the entire NBA.
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.
Los Angeles Lakers fans found a new source of frustration this week, and it centered on Dalton Knecht and one painfully revealing possession. It was not a missed shot or a blown defensive rotation.
Bronny James has spent most of his NBA journey warming the bench. The wrinkles of disappointment of not being on the floor are easier to detect on his face than they ever were.
Two nights after the Los Angeles Lakers used a late surge to get past the visiting Memphis Grizzlies, the teams will run it back again Sunday at Los Angeles.
JJ Redick finally addressed the challenge of coaching LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves on the LA Lakers. JJ Redick has openly acknowledged what many have wondered: managing a team built around LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves is not difficult because of the immense talent.
The Lakers needed a response after a rough December, and Friday offered one. Not perfect. Not smooth. But good enough. Los Angeles opened the new year with a 128-121 home win over the short-handed Grizzlies, improving to 21-11 in a game that felt far more unstable than the final score suggests.
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic can do a lot of things on the basketball court at a high level, but defense remains a vulnerable aspect of his game.