Blowout wins never get old. The Lakers handled business against the Pelicans, avoiding a potential trap game with a focused, professional approach. With big wins against the Clippers behind them and the Knicks ahead, this could have been an easy letdown spot. Instead, they locked in, took control early, and cruised to an easy W.
This team is starting to feel different—like a squad that knows how to dominate, have fun, and get the job done. Let’s break down the performances. As always, grades are based on expectations, with a B representing an average outing for each player.
Dorian Finney-Smith
30 minutes, 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3-10 FG, 2-7 3PT, +5
Another tough shooting night, but his impact goes beyond the box score. His defense, rebounding, and floor-spacing remain valuable, even when the shots aren’t falling. The Lakers’ identity shift since acquiring him has been real.
Grade: B-
LeBron James
33 minutes, 34 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 10-18 FG, 5-10 3PT, 9-9 FT, +7
What more can be said? LeBron remains unreal. He casually dropped 34 points while balancing perimeter play with smart drives. Seeing him and Luka coexist so smoothly is a scary sight for the league.
Grade: A
Jaxson Hayes
24 minutes, 19 points, 10 rebounds, 8-8 FG, 3-3 FT, +4
This was peak Jaxson Hayes. Perfect shooting, active on the glass, and making the most of every opportunity. Just a year ago, this kind of performance seemed far-fetched. Now? It feels sustainable.
Grade: A+
Gabe Vincent
29 minutes, 2 points, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1-7 FG, 0-6 3PT, -8
The brief shooting resurgence? Yeah, that’s gone. He’s back in a slump, and while his defense and playmaking keep him afloat in the rotation, the Lakers really need him to hit some shots.
Grade: F
Luka Dončić
34 minutes, 30 points, 8 rebounds, 15 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 9-19 FG, 6-13 3PT, 6-11 FT, +37
The Luka-LeBron duo is absurd. Luka orchestrated everything, bouncing between deep threes and pinpoint assists. The Lakers put up 52 threes as a team, and Luka was the catalyst for so many of them. We’re just scratching the surface.
Grade: A+
Jarred Vanderbilt
20 minutes, 12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 4-7 FG, 2-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, +27
Vando is back—and looking better every game. The energy, the defense, and now, maybe a corner three? If he keeps this up, the Lakers just unlocked another layer to their lineup flexibility.
Grade: A-
Dalton Knecht
26 minutes, 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 5-9 FG, 2-6 3PT, 1-2 FT, +2
A much-needed bounce-back game for Knecht. He was on the verge of losing minutes but responded by contributing in multiple ways. A solid step in the right direction.
Grade: B+
Shake Milton
19 minutes, 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 5-7 FG, 2-4 3PT, +30
Yes, +30. Shake stepped up, hit timely shots, and played efficient minutes off the bench. Nothing flashy, just effective basketball.
Grade: B+
Trey Jemison III
17 minutes, 4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2-2 FG, +7
Forget the box score—Jemison’s impact was noticeable. He was physical, active on the boards, and made a couple of really nice short-roll passes. A gritty, valuable performance.
Grade: B+
Alex Len, Bronny James
Bronny checked in during garbage time and got on the board. Love to see it.
Coaching: JJ Redick
After the game, Redick noted that the Lakers expected to get a ton of open threes—and they did. That kind of preparation and game-planning just wasn’t happening under Darvin Ham. Feels like a small thing, but it matters.
Grade: A-
Final Thoughts
This win was fun. The Lakers didn’t just handle business—they did it comfortably. The chemistry is growing, the rotations are tightening, and this squad is starting to look legit.
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