The Lakers are stuck in a loop - and not the good kind. For the sixth time this season, they’ve been blown out by a familiar formula: a team with athletic wings and a bit of outside shooting exposes their defensive gaps, and the offense just can’t keep pace. It’s not a new script, but it’s one they’ve failed to rewrite, even after getting burned by it just days ago.
Let’s break it down - player by player - and see where things went wrong, where they went right (there were a few bright spots), and what this tells us about the state of the team right now.
LeBron James
33 minutes, 29 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 10-19 FG, 3-6 3PT, 6-7 FT, -7
At 41 years old, playing his third game in four nights, LeBron still managed to look like the best player on the floor for stretches. He was efficient, aggressive, and did his best to keep the Lakers within striking distance.
The turnovers were a bit of an issue - a few uncharacteristic moments where the handle got loose - but that’s nitpicking when you consider the context. He’s not the problem.
In fact, he’s still the solution more often than not.
Grade: A-
Jake LaRavia
37 minutes, 18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 5-10 FG, 3-4 3PT, 5-5 FT, -6
LaRavia showed up. He knocked down shots, made smart plays, and brought some much-needed energy.
On a night where the team looked flat for long stretches, his production stood out. He’s not going to carry the team, but he did his job and then some.
Grade: B+
Deandre Ayton
32 minutes, 12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 6-10 FG, -4
Ayton’s stat line doesn’t look terrible at first glance, but six rebounds from your starting center against a team that’s not exactly dominant on the glass? That’s a concern.
He’s being asked to plug a lot of holes defensively, and that’s not entirely fair - but at some point, you need more presence on the boards and more impact on both ends.
Grade: C+
Marcus Smart
32 minutes, 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3-9 FG, 1-5 3PT, 3-4 FT, -1
Smart’s shooting slump continues. He’s hit above 33.3% from the field just once in the last five games, and while he’s still bringing effort and defense, the offensive struggles are hard to ignore.
With Austin Reaves nearing a return, Smart’s grip on a starting spot might be loosening.
Grade: D
Luka Dončić
36 minutes, 39 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 15-26 FG, 6-11 3PT, 3-7 FT, -13
Once again, Luka was brilliant - and once again, it wasn’t nearly enough. He poured in 39 points with his usual blend of craft, power, and shot-making.
But the lack of support around him was glaring. When the dust settled, the biggest question was: where would this team be without him?
The answer probably isn’t one they want to think about.
Grade: A+
Gabe Vincent
15 minutes, 1 rebound, 4 fouls, 0-7 FG, 0-5 3PT, -15
Vincent had been trending in the right direction recently, but this was a rough outing. He couldn’t buy a bucket, and the frustration from the home crowd was loud and clear after one of his missed threes.
The boos weren’t necessarily about him - they were about the performance as a whole - but he was the one in the spotlight when it happened.
Grade: F
Rui Hachimura
18 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, 1-4 FG, 1-4 3PT, -17
Hachimura just got back from injury, so there’s some understandable rust. Still, this was a forgettable performance.
The shot wasn’t falling, and he didn’t make much of an impact elsewhere. The team needs his size and scoring, especially off the bench, so the hope is this was just a step in the process of getting back to game shape.
Grade: D
Jarred Vanderbilt
15 minutes, 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3-4 FG, -12
Vando gave good effort, as he usually does, but the small-ball lineups with him at center just didn’t work. The defense was porous, and the offense lacked spacing.
He’s a valuable piece in the right role, but this wasn’t it.
Grade: C-
Kobe Bufkin
17 minutes, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 0-2 FG, -7
Bufkin got some extended run, and while he didn’t do much to stand out, he didn’t hurt the team either. With Knecht and Nick Smith Jr. struggling, Bufkin deserves another look.
The rookie learning curve is steep, but the flashes are there.
Grade: Incomplete (but trending toward C-)
Dalton Knecht, Bronny James, Nick Smith Jr., Drew Timme
The garbage time unit didn’t move the needle. No real impact, no real evaluation to be made here.
JJ Redick (Head Coach)
Redick made a notable adjustment by pulling Knecht and NSJ from the rotation, which was overdue.
Beyond that, his options are limited with this roster. There are clear flaws - especially defensively - that coaching alone can’t fix.
Still, he’s trying to find combinations that work, and that process is ongoing.
Grade: B-
DNP: Maxi Kleber
Inactive for this one.
Final Word:
This wasn’t just another loss - it was another familiar loss.
The kind that raises questions about effort, accountability, and whether this team can dig deep enough to change the narrative. The talent is there in spots, but the cohesion and consistency are not.
And until that changes, we may be seeing more nights like this.