Deandre Ayton shines as Lakers dominate Raptors - Los Angeles Times
The Lakers had a full squad on Sunday, providing Coach JJ Redick with a diverse range of offensive options as their schedule intensified. This was a significant improvement from their recent struggles, as they welcomed back key players.
Luka Doncic (groin injury), Deandre Ayton (knee soreness), and Jaxson Hayes (hamstring tendinopathy) all returned to the court for the game against the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena. Only Austin Reaves (calf strain) remained on the sidelines.
The Lakers faced a challenging back-to-back game schedule, with LeBron James playing the night after their loss in Portland.
When healthy, the Lakers are a formidable basketball team, and they showcased their prowess in a 110-93 victory over the Raptors. This win marked a significant improvement from their recent losses, as they held the Raptors to their lowest point total of the season.
Prior to the game, the Lakers had lost five of their previous six games and had conceded over 130 points in their last two defeats. Coach Redick acknowledged the difficult period the team was going through, stating, 'This is a very tough time of year for everybody in the NBA right now.'
Despite the challenges, the Lakers improved to 25-16 at the halfway point of their 82-game schedule. Redick praised the team's resilience, saying, 'The guys have done a great job of just getting through the stretch fighting.'
Deandre Ayton was exceptional, achieving a double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds. He also demonstrated his shooting accuracy, making 10 out of 10 field goals and 5 out of 6 free throws.
Ayton's performance was historic, as he became the third player in Lakers history to shoot 100% from the field on 10 attempts with at least 10 rebounds, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Mitch Kupchak. He also became the first player this season to record a 20-point game with perfect shooting and at least 10 field-goal attempts, and the 34th player in NBA history to achieve this feat.
Ayton attributed his success to his teammates' excellent passing, stating, 'They find me in the easiest spots ever and I got some easy ones tonight, for sure.'
Luka Doncic contributed 25 points and seven assists, while LeBron James had 24 points and seven assists.
Rui Hachimura provided valuable support from the bench, scoring 10 points.
Doncic and Ayton's presence was felt from the start, with Doncic scoring 18 points and five assists in the first half, despite picking up three fouls and a technical foul. Ayton was equally impressive, scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the first half.
The Lakers are set to embark on a challenging 'Grammys Trip' starting on Tuesday, which will take them on the road for approximately two and a half weeks. They will play against Denver, the Clippers, Dallas, Chicago, Cleveland, Washington, the Knicks, and the Nets.
This trip follows a demanding schedule of five games in seven days, including two back-to-back games.
Redick acknowledged the difficulty of the stretch, saying, 'We finished five games in eight nights and started five games in seven nights, and tonight’s the culmination of that.'
The Lakers' strategy for the game against the Raptors was to utilize a 10-player rotation, a departure from their usual nine-man lineup, ensuring a well-rested and energized team.
This approach will be crucial for the Lakers as they navigate the remainder of the season, with Redick emphasizing the importance of rest and recovery due to the imbalanced game schedule.
