Lakers Outgun Jazz in High-Scoring Battle, but Defensive Questions Remain
For the Los Angeles Lakers, defense-especially on the perimeter-has been the talking point for weeks. And for good reason.
It's been a sore spot all season long, and Thursday night in Utah was another test of whether they could finally turn the corner. The answer?
Not right away, but eventually, they found enough stops-and more than enough offense-to walk away with a 143-135 win over the Jazz.
The game didn’t start the way the Lakers would’ve liked. Utah came out firing, dropping 41 points in the first quarter while shooting a blistering 70% from the field.
That’s not just hot-it’s scorching. The Lakers were down nine after one and gave up 78 points by halftime, with rookie guard Keyonte George lighting them up for 18 in the first half alone.
It looked like another long night on the defensive end.
But credit to L.A.-they responded. The turning point came early in the fourth quarter, when Jake LaRavia knocked down a free throw to give the Lakers a 109-108 lead. That sparked a 13-2 run that gave them some breathing room, and they held off a late Utah push to seal the win.
The numbers tell a story of a team that tightened up just enough. After giving up 78 in the first half, the Lakers held the Jazz to 57 in the second.
They also won the rebounding battle 48-39, despite missing starting center Deandre Ayton, and they only turned the ball over seven times. Add in a 24-9 edge in fast-break points, and it’s clear the Lakers found other ways to win, even if the defense still isn’t where they want it to be.
At 19-7, the Lakers are holding steady in third place in the Western Conference, just one game behind the Nuggets for second. But if they want to make a real push in the West, the defense will need to catch up to the offense.
Player Breakdown
Marcus Smart: A
With Austin Reaves still sidelined by a calf strain, Smart stepped into the starting lineup again and delivered exactly what the Lakers needed: toughness, leadership, and timely shot-making. He hit 6-of-11 from the field, including 5-of-9 from deep, with three of those threes coming in the fourth quarter when the Lakers were trying to put the game away.
He finished with 17 points, four rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 28 minutes-before fouling out. But his impact was felt throughout, especially in crunch time.
Jaxson Hayes: B
Starting in place of Ayton, Hayes didn’t dominate the glass or protect the rim-he had just three rebounds and no blocks-but he made every shot he took. Literally.
Hayes went a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, finishing with 16 points, most of them coming on lob finishes that gave the Lakers some much-needed vertical spacing. He played his role and played it well.
Rui Hachimura: B+
Hachimura quietly put together a solid performance. He scored 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting, grabbed three rebounds, and added an assist and a block in 33 minutes. He gave the Lakers an efficient offensive option and helped keep the offense flowing when the second unit was on the floor.
LeBron James: A-
LeBron continues to ramp up after missing the first 14 games of the season with sciatica, and this was another strong step forward. He poured in 28 points on 8-of-17 shooting, with nine of those points coming in a crucial second quarter that kept the Lakers within striking distance. He added 10 assists, seven rebounds, and a steal in 33 minutes-and even took a shot to the left knee but stayed in the game and said afterward that he felt fine.
The only thing missing from his performance? The long ball.
LeBron went 0-for-5 from three. But with the way he was moving and distributing, it’s a minor footnote in an otherwise impactful night.
Luka Doncic: A+
This was a Luka masterclass. He started cold from beyond the arc-just 1-of-7 in the first half-but he kept attacking and wore down the Jazz defense with a relentless offensive assault. He finished with 45 points on 14-of-28 shooting, including four made threes and 13-of-16 from the line.
But it wasn’t just the scoring. Doncic also grabbed 11 boards, handed out 14 assists, and added five steals while committing just one turnover in 40 minutes.
That’s his third triple-double of the season and sixth 40-point game. He controlled the tempo, dissected the defense, and made sure the Lakers came out on top.
Jake LaRavia: B+
LaRavia gave the Lakers a much-needed spark off the bench. He scored 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-4 from deep, and added six rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes. His fourth-quarter free throw gave the Lakers their first lead since early in the game, and he made the most of his time on the floor.
Jarred Vanderbilt: A
Vanderbilt is back in the rotation, and he’s making his presence felt in a big way. He pulled down 11 rebounds in 25 minutes, including eight in the first half and six in the second quarter alone. He added seven points and an assist, and while his scoring won’t jump off the page, his energy and hustle were critical in helping the Lakers stay competitive early and close strong late.
Maxi Kleber: C+
Kleber didn’t have a huge impact, but he did his job in limited minutes. In 19 minutes, he scored five points, grabbed two rebounds, and chipped in an assist and a block. He was solid, if unspectacular.
Nick Smith Jr., Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero: Incomplete
Smith played five minutes and missed both of his shots. Thiero grabbed one rebound in three minutes, and Knecht didn’t register a stat in four minutes of action. None of the three scored.
Bottom Line: The Lakers are winning games with offense right now, and Thursday night was no exception. But if they want to keep climbing in the West-and stay there-they’ll need to find more consistency on the defensive end.
The good news? They’ve got the talent, and they’re finding ways to win in the meantime.