The Los Angeles Lakers finally found their footing Sunday night, snapping out of a recent slump with a much-needed 110-93 win over the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena. Coming off a rough 132-116 loss to Portland just 24 hours earlier-and still trying to shake off a stretch where they’d dropped 12 of their last 21 games-this one felt like a breath of fresh air for a team desperately searching for rhythm.
The Raptors came in hot, sitting fourth in the East at 25-18 and bringing with them one of the league’s most lethal fast-break attacks. And early on, it looked like the Lakers were headed for another long night. Toronto jumped out to a 30-21 lead after the first quarter, capitalizing on the kind of lackluster L.A. defense that’s become a recurring issue in recent weeks.
But in the second quarter, the Lakers flipped the switch.
They opened with 11 straight points, part of a 24-6 surge that completely changed the tone of the game. Suddenly, the defensive energy was there.
The ball was moving. And for the first time in a while, the Lakers looked like a team with purpose.
From that point on, it was a grind-it-out battle through the second and third quarters, but L.A. surged again late in the third with an 11-3 run that helped them create separation. The fourth quarter was all Lakers, as they closed strong and held the Raptors to their lowest scoring output of the season.
Toronto shot just 41.8% from the field and a frigid 21.9% from three. L.A.’s switch to a zone defense in the second quarter played a big role in disrupting the Raptors’ rhythm, and the Lakers also won the rebounding battle by five and limited Toronto to just 14 fast-break points-an impressive feat against a team that thrives in transition.
With the win, the Lakers move to 25-16 on the season, holding onto sixth place in the Western Conference with a slim half-game edge over the Phoenix Suns.
Let’s break down the individual performances:
Marcus Smart: B
Smart did exactly what you want from your veteran guard-set the tone defensively.
He helped hold Immanuel Quickley, who’s been averaging 16.5 points per game, to just nine points on 4-of-9 shooting. Offensively, Smart was efficient-he knocked down 3-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-3 from deep.
He added eight points, five boards, three assists, and a steal. The five turnovers in 25 minutes were a blemish, but his defensive impact helped balance that out.
Jake LaRavia: D
It was another quiet night for LaRavia.
He struggled to find a rhythm offensively, hitting just one of five shots and finishing with two points. He did contribute five rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 19 minutes, but he’s clearly still trying to find his place in the rotation.
Deandre Ayton: A
This was Ayton at his most efficient.
He got involved early and often, scoring 12 by halftime and finishing a perfect 10-for-10 from the field. Add in 5-of-6 from the free throw line, and you’ve got a 25-point, 13-rebound performance that anchored the Lakers on both ends.
He also chipped in an assist and a block in 33 minutes. When Ayton plays with this kind of assertiveness, the Lakers are a different team.
Luka Doncic: C-minus/C
Doncic had a hot start with 18 first-half points, but it came on 5-of-14 shooting, and he cooled off significantly after the break.
He finished 8-of-23 from the field and had trouble getting past Collin Murray-Boyles, who blocked three of his shots. Still, Doncic managed to log 25 points, seven assists, two rebounds, a steal, and a block in 34 minutes.
Not his sharpest night, but he found ways to contribute.
LeBron James: B
LeBron was steady and impactful, especially during the Lakers’ second-quarter surge.
He scored nine points during that 24-6 run and ended the night with 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting. He also added seven assists, four rebounds, and two blocks in 32 minutes.
At this stage in his career, LeBron continues to deliver when the team needs a spark.
Gabe Vincent: C
Vincent played 17 minutes and had a modest stat line-five points, two assists, one rebound, and a steal. He hit 2-of-5 shots and didn’t make a major impact, but he gave the Lakers some decent minutes off the bench.
Jaxson Hayes: B
Back from a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury, Hayes gave the Lakers 13 solid minutes. He scored two points and grabbed five rebounds, helping L.A. control the glass and giving them some physicality in the paint.
Rui Hachimura: B-minus
Still working his way back after missing seven games with a calf injury, Hachimura looked a bit rusty but contributed 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting in 21 minutes. He didn’t record a rebound, assist, steal, or block, but his scoring off the bench was a welcome addition.
Jarred Vanderbilt: A
Vanderbilt brought the energy all night.
In just 21 minutes, he racked up nine rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and an assist. He only scored two points, but his impact on the defensive end and on the boards was crucial during the Lakers’ run to pull away in the second half.
Drew Timme: C
Coming off a strong performance the night before, Timme couldn’t replicate the magic.
He played 16 minutes, went 1-of-4 from the field (1-of-2 from three), and finished with three points, three rebounds, and two assists. Not a standout night, but not a disaster either.
Dalton Knecht, Bronny James, Nick Smith Jr., Kobe Bufkin: Incomplete
These four saw the floor in the final 2:17 of the game.
Only Smith took a shot-he went 1-of-3 for three points. The others didn’t register any attempts or notable stats, but they got some late-game run.
Bottom line: The Lakers needed this one. They responded after a rough first quarter, locked in defensively, and got strong performances from key players like Ayton, LeBron, and Vanderbilt.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was a step in the right direction. Now the question is whether they can build on it and start stacking wins as the playoff race heats up.