After a rocky holiday stretch, the Los Angeles Lakers found their groove again with a hard-fought 120-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena. This win marked their second consecutive triumph over Memphis in three days, offering a much-needed morale boost as the team continues to battle through a slew of injuries. While the stars shined as expected, it was Jake LaRavia—a name not always in the Lakers’ headlines—who seized the spotlight with a career-best performance against his former team.
Luka Doncic led all scorers with 36 points, adding nine rebounds and eight assists in a near triple-double effort. LeBron James, ever the orchestrator, chipped in 26 points and dished out 10 assists, looking increasingly in rhythm as the season wears on. Yet it was LaRavia, the 6-foot-7 forward, who delivered a statement game, pouring in 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-10 from beyond the arc, while contributing five rebounds, four assists, and a steal. His defensive presence and ability to stretch the floor proved vital, especially with Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura sidelined by calf injuries.
“[I’m] very comfortable,” LaRavia said after the game, reflecting on his growing role. “Kind of just new stepping stones each game, growing in the way that I’m playing offensively. Obviously, with AR out, this is one of those hacks I was talking about where I am able to do this. It’s been good.” LaRavia’s confidence clearly resonated on the court, as he started for the third straight game in Reaves’ absence and made the most of his opportunity.
Head coach JJ Redick was quick to highlight LaRavia’s impact, both in the box score and beyond. “I told him in front of the group after the game, particularly in that first half, his aggressiveness and confidence were really good for us,” Redick told reporters. “The thing we’ve tried to really instill and coach him on all season is 0.5 decision-making, being catch-and-shoot ready. If you are attacking a closeout and you have an advantage, maintain the advantage. Both of those things require confidence and aggressiveness. Just a fantastic game from him. Another good game from him defensively as well, with deflections and being disruptive.”
LaRavia’s performance was especially meaningful given the context—facing the team that drafted him, the Memphis Grizzlies. He embraced the challenge, delivering a well-rounded game that drew praise not only from his coach but also from teammates, including superstar Luka Doncic. The Lakers’ rotation has been in flux, with LaRavia battling Rui Hachimura for a starting spot most of the season. Hachimura’s absence opened the door, and LaRavia has responded by averaging 23.5 points and 7.0 rebounds over his last two games, shooting a sizzling 60.7% from the field and 43.8% from deep.
“I’ve just been trusting the work I’ve been putting in recently,” LaRavia said when asked about his surge in confidence. “Obviously, the shot was struggling early on, and the coaches telling me, players telling me, ‘Just keep shooting the ball.’ They trust me. I trust myself. So it’s really just about going into the game and then doing it.”
The Lakers needed every bit of that self-belief to overcome a stubborn Grizzlies squad. Memphis led by as many as 11 late in the third quarter, but Los Angeles closed the period on an 8-2 run to narrow the deficit to 87-83. The fourth quarter saw the Lakers claw back, tying the game at 92-92 on a driving layup by LaRavia with 7:14 to play. Moments later, another LaRavia layup gave the Lakers their first lead since the opening quarter. The teams traded blows until Doncic’s pullup jumper put LA ahead for good at 100-99 with just over five minutes left. Two consecutive Doncic three-pointers stretched the lead to 112-103, effectively sealing the win.
LeBron James’ steady hand was crucial throughout, logging 37 minutes and finishing with 26 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists. Deandre Ayton contributed 15 points and eight rebounds, providing a physical presence in the paint, while Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt chipped in with timely defensive plays. The Lakers’ bench, thinned by injuries, saw limited production but benefited from Redick’s in-game adjustments, particularly his decision to trap Memphis’ Cam Spencer and utilize LeBron in the post to generate offense.
On the Memphis side, Jaylen Wells led the way with 23 points, while rookie Cedric Coward impressed in the first half with 16 points and nine rebounds before exiting with an ankle injury. Jaren Jackson Jr. (14 points) and Jock Landale (13 points, 10 rebounds) rounded out the Grizzlies’ top performers. Memphis was without star guard Ja Morant, who missed his 15th game in the last 21 due to a nagging calf injury—a blow that continues to hamper their backcourt stability.
The game wasn’t without its share of controversy. In the third quarter, LaRavia appeared to commit a blatant double-dribble violation while bringing the ball up the floor. Attempting to pass to LeBron, who wasn’t looking, LaRavia awkwardly picked up his dribble—then started dribbling again, unnoticed by all three referees. Several Grizzlies players, including Jaylen Wells and Jock Landale, immediately spotted the missed call, but play continued. The missed violation ultimately had no bearing on the outcome, but it certainly drew some laughs and head shakes from both sides.
As the Lakers look ahead, the big question is whether LaRavia’s recent surge is a sign of things to come. With Austin Reaves still nursing a strained left calf and Hachimura’s return date uncertain, LaRavia’s versatility and confidence could keep him in the starting lineup. His season averages of 9.1 points and 4.3 rebounds on 45.9% shooting (32.0% from three) may not jump off the page, but his recent performances suggest a player ready to seize a bigger role.
Redick summed up the mood in the locker room: “He played basically everyone he could tonight. I don’t really blame him for the minutes or playing time. The team just doesn’t have good options on the bench right now.”
With two straight wins in the books and the team’s mood lifted, the Lakers now turn their focus to a Tuesday road matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, will try to regroup at home against the San Antonio Spurs. If Jake LaRavia can keep up this level of play, the Lakers might just have found the spark they need as the season grinds on.
