The Lakers didn’t waste any time Tuesday night in Brooklyn. From the opening tip, they blitzed the Nets with a level of energy and execution that made it clear this one was going to be over early.
By the end of the first quarter, Los Angeles had doubled Brooklyn’s score. By halftime, the Lakers had 69 points on the board and the game was all but wrapped.
This wasn’t just a win - it was a statement. Let’s break down the performances, player by player, and grade them based on expectations.
LeBron James
30 mins, 25 pts, 3 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl, 1 TO, 10-16 FG, 0-3 3PT, 5-7 FT, +24
If this was LeBron’s final appearance in Brooklyn, he made it one to remember. He came out with purpose and delivered a vintage performance - smooth footwork, explosive finishes, and a commanding presence that had the crowd, yes the Brooklyn crowd, cheering for him like it was Crypto.com Arena.
He set the tone early and never let up. This was LeBron in full control.
Grade: A+
Luka Dončić
29 mins, 24 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 5 TO, 8-18 FG, 4-11 3PT, 4-6 FT, +19
Fresh off being named Western Conference Player of the Month, Luka came out firing. He dropped 14 points in the first quarter alone and dished out some absolute wizardry with the ball - including a no-look dime to Deandre Ayton that had fans rewinding the highlight. The turnovers were a bit high, but when you’re orchestrating the offense like he was, you live with a few risks.
Grade: A+
Deandre Ayton
28 mins, 7 pts, 8 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 TO, 3-5 FG, 1-2 FT, +16
Ayton didn’t need to do much, and he didn’t force the issue. He played within the flow, cleaned the glass, and made the most of his limited touches. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you want from your big man - play your role, protect the paint, and finish when called upon.
Grade: B
Marcus Smart
18 mins, 6 pts, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 1 TO, 3-5 FG, 0-2 3PT, +30
Smart was active, but maybe a little too eager to get shots up late. With the game well in hand, his shot selection wasn’t exactly textbook, but it didn’t hurt the team. He brought his usual defensive intensity and helped push the tempo early.
Grade: C
Jake LaRavia
22 mins, 18 pts, 5 reb, 1 stl, 1 TO, 7-9 FG, 1-2 3PT, 3-6 FT, +10
LaRavia got the starting nod and made the most of it. Efficient shooting, good rebounding, and solid defensive activity.
He gave the Lakers a nice lift, even though he returned to a bench role in the second half with Austin Reaves back in the mix. Still, this was a productive night for a player trying to carve out a consistent role.
Grade: B+
Jaxson Hayes
15 mins, 9 pts, 1 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 3-3 FG, 3-4 FT, +8
Hayes was a force in limited minutes. He attacked the rim with authority and finished everything around the basket. That kind of energy off the bench is invaluable - and it’s easy to see why he’s earned a spot in the upcoming Dunk Contest.
Grade: A-
Austin Reaves
21 mins, 15 pts, 4 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 2 TO, 3-9 FG, 1-5 3PT, 8-10 FT, +10
Reaves looked like a guy who hadn’t played in a bit - which, to be fair, he hadn’t. The rhythm wasn’t quite there, but he still found ways to contribute, especially by getting to the line.
The most important takeaway here? He’s back.
And the Lakers will need him sharp down the stretch.
Grade: B-
Rui Hachimura
26 mins, 5 pts, 3 reb, 1 stl, 1 TO, 2-3 FG, 1-2 3PT, -1
Hachimura was barely involved offensively - not entirely his fault, but still notable. He made the most of his few touches, but the Lakers will need to find ways to get him more involved in tighter games. This one didn’t demand much from him, but that can’t be the case every night.
Grade: C-
Jarred Vanderbilt
19 mins, 6 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 2-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-4 FT, +4
Vando was solid, if unspectacular. He played his usual brand of scrappy defense and chipped in a few buckets. With Reaves returning, it’ll be interesting to see how his minutes evolve - but for now, he’s holding his spot in the rotation.
Grade: C-
Gabe Vincent
16 mins, 1 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 0-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, -9
It’s tough to find a silver lining here. Vincent couldn’t get anything going offensively, and when he’s not scoring, it’s hard to justify his minutes. The defensive effort was there, but the Lakers need more production from their backup guards.
Grade: F
Drew Timme, Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, Bronny James
These guys didn’t log enough minutes to warrant a grade, but they were part of the closing group once the game was well out of reach.
Head Coach JJ Redick
Redick had his group locked in and ready to roll.
The Lakers came out with energy, executed their game plan, and took care of business early. The only blemish?
Another sluggish third quarter, where they got outscored. But given the cushion they built in the first half, it didn’t matter much.
That said, it’s something to monitor moving forward.
Grade: B+
Final Thoughts:
This was a wire-to-wire performance from a Lakers team that looks increasingly comfortable with its identity.
LeBron and Luka led the charge, the supporting cast filled in the gaps, and JJ Redick continues to push the right buttons. Against a struggling Brooklyn squad, the Lakers did exactly what you want from a contender - they didn’t play down to the competition.
They handled business, and they did it early.