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It took four months, but Lakers finally looked uncluttered

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated Feb 21, 2026 6:52 PM ET

The Lakers waited nearly four months to finally see what this thing looks like with everyone available.

Friday night against the Clippers, they didn’t ease into it. They went straight to the good stuff.

With Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves all healthy and starting together, the Lakers put on one of their cleanest offensive performances of the season in a 125-122 win.

It started with movement. Real movement. Early actions designed to get Doncic downhill, James screening and facilitating, Reaves sliding into space. A couple of early misses didn’t matter. Once the rhythm hit, it didn’t stop.

Austin Reaves postgame: https://t.co/wVx7Xw4bwU

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 21, 2026

The Lakers made 16 of their final 17 shots in the opening quarter, scored 41 points, and shot better than 80 percent. It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t hero ball. It was spacing, quick decisions and the ball hopping side to side.

“The quality of shots was high,” Reaves said, via Khobi Price of the California Post. “The ball was moving, and we were moving their defense. Luka and Bron were doing a really good job making plays.”

Thread the needle @drinkpathwater | Assist of the Game pic.twitter.com/pVHd96mNQb

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 21, 2026

Coach JJ Redick liked the process even more than the result.

“It was clutter-free, ego-free,” Redick said. “We just played.”

The Lakers finished with 31 assists and shot better than 51 percent from the floor and from three. The numbers popped. But the bigger takeaway was how easy it all looked.

That’s the version they’ve been waiting for.

This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission.

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