The Los Angeles Lakers' bench hasn’t exactly been lighting up the scoreboard this season - in fact, they’ve been the lowest-scoring second unit in the league. But Sunday night in Phoenix, that narrative took a sharp turn. With the Lakers needing a jolt, the bench delivered in a big way, sparking a massive 24-0 run that ultimately led to a gritty 114-112 win over the Suns.
That surge didn’t come from the usual suspects. It was Jake LaRavia, Jaxson Hayes, Gabe Vincent, and Jarred Vanderbilt who stepped in and flipped the game on its head.
The highlight? A jaw-dropping poster dunk from Hayes over Suns big man Oso Ighodaro that sent the Lakers’ bench into a frenzy and gave the team a serious momentum boost.
But if you ask Hayes about that dunk, he’s not patting himself on the back. Instead, he gave the spotlight to LaRavia, who picked Ighodaro’s pocket to start the break and then delivered a perfectly timed pass to Hayes for the slam.
“Shoutout Jake, man,” Hayes said postgame on Spectrum SportsNet. “Jake finally made that pass.
He made it once before in Milwaukee and every time he does it, we get a dunk. So shoutout to Jake.
Hopefully he keeps making that pass… It was a very unselfish pass.”
That kind of response tells you a lot about the chemistry brewing on this Lakers bench. Hayes, with his length and bounce, is always a threat to finish above the rim.
But it was LaRavia’s decision-making - opting not to force the issue himself and instead finding Hayes in stride - that turned a good play into a great one. It’s the kind of unselfish basketball that championship teams are built on.
Hayes finished the night with 12 points and nine boards, providing a much-needed interior presence. LaRavia didn’t have his best shooting night, going just 2-for-9, but he found other ways to contribute - pulling down eight rebounds, swiping two steals, and swatting two shots. That’s the kind of gritty, do-it-all effort that doesn’t always show up in highlight reels but makes a real difference in winning basketball.
This Lakers bench may not be the flashiest or most prolific scoring unit, but what they bring is energy, effort, and defensive disruption. And on Sunday night, that was exactly what the Lakers needed. Hayes’ poster was the exclamation point, but the story was all about the collective - a group of guys playing hard, playing together, and making the most of their moment.
Another bright spot off the bench? Jarred Vanderbilt.
After being on the outside of the rotation looking in, Vanderbilt got some run against the Suns due to injuries and a need for defensive intensity. He didn’t waste the opportunity.
The veteran forward brought his trademark hustle and defensive versatility, and head coach JJ Redick took notice - and made it clear he was happy with what Vanderbilt brought to the floor.
In a game that could’ve easily slipped away, it was the Lakers’ bench - often criticized, often overlooked - that stepped up and swung the momentum. If this group can keep bringing that kind of energy, the Lakers might just have a second unit that’s more dangerous than the numbers suggest.