NBA Roundup: Lakers Find Their Groove, Hornets Capitalize, and Blazers Keep Climbing
Lakers Look Whole Again with Ayton’s Return
For the first time in a while, the Lakers looked like the team they were built to be - balanced, energized, and anchored by size. Sunday night’s 110-93 win over the Raptors wasn’t just a much-needed victory; it was a statement that this team, when healthy, still has a gear that can overwhelm opponents.
The biggest jolt came from Deandre Ayton, who returned from a knee injury and didn’t miss a shot - literally. Ayton went a perfect 10-for-10 from the field, finishing with 25 points and 13 rebounds in his most impactful performance since early November. His presence in the paint gave the Lakers the kind of physical edge they’ve been missing, and it opened up the floor for everyone else.
Luka Doncic, back in the lineup after resting Saturday in Portland, looked sharp with 25 points and seven assists, including five made threes. LeBron James added 24 points and seven assists of his own, continuing to defy time.
The 41-year-old played back-to-back games for just the second time this season, capping off a grueling stretch of five games in seven days. And he still looked like the most composed player on the court.
The win snapped a rough patch and couldn’t have come at a better time, with an eight-game road trip looming. If this version of the Lakers shows up consistently, they’ll be a problem.
Hornets Take Care of Business in Denver
The Hornets didn’t ask questions - they just handled business.
Brandon Miller continued his strong run with 23 points, while rookie Tidjane Salaun delivered a spark off the bench with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Charlotte cruised to a 110-87 win over a short-handed Nuggets squad that was missing five of its top eight scorers, including Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon.
That kind of depletion is tough for any team to overcome, and Denver never found its footing. Charlotte, meanwhile, jumped out early and never looked back. It marked a rare win in Denver for a Hornets team that’s struggled historically in that building, but Miller’s recent surge - nearly 26 points per game over his last three - has given them a new offensive engine.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective. And in a season that’s been anything but predictable for Charlotte, that’s a win worth building on.
Trail Blazers Keep Rolling Behind Avdija, Sharpe, and Clingan
Don’t look now, but the Trail Blazers are heating up - and doing it with a well-rounded attack.
Portland picked up a gritty 117-110 win on the road against the Kings, and they did it with contributions across the board. Deni Avdija returned from a back injury and stuffed the stat sheet with 26 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds. Shaedon Sharpe matched him with 26 of his own, and Donovan Clingan was a force in the paint, racking up 21 points and 17 boards.
That’s three players with 20-plus points, and a team that’s now won 12 of its last 15. After a rocky start to the season, the Blazers are back at .500 for the first time since mid-November - a mark that says a lot about their resilience and growth.
This isn’t just a hot streak. It’s a team figuring itself out, and doing it with a mix of young talent, toughness, and timely execution. If Avdija can stay healthy and Clingan continues to assert himself inside, Portland’s ceiling might be higher than anyone expected a month ago.
Bottom Line
Sunday night gave us a glimpse of three teams trending in very different directions - the Lakers rediscovering their identity, the Hornets taking advantage of an opportunity, and the Blazers quietly turning into one of the league’s more intriguing stories. It’s still January, but these are the kinds of nights that start to shape the playoff picture - and more importantly, the belief inside locker rooms.