Grading every Lakers player’s performance from the team’s 119-118 loss to the Magic.
After a six-game winning streak, we’re back to the frustrating losses portion of the season.
The Lakers led by four with 25 seconds remaining on Thursday, yet lost the game after LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined to go 2-6 at the line in the final 38 seconds.
While that will get the lion’s share of the attention, the Lakers weren’t good enough in a number of areas. They allowed 15 offensive rebounds and let the Magic shoot 47.3% from the field with 15 3-pointers.
There’s a lot to unpack in this one. So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
38 minutes, 39 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 14-22 FG, 1-1 3PT, 10-13 FT, +0
How do you balance both being a primary reason the Lakers were in the game while also being a primary reason they lost the game, too.
Through 47:20, AD was the dominant player he’s been this year. There were too many offensive rebounds for the Magic on the night, but I put that at the feet of most of the other players that weren’t AD.
But in the final 40 seconds, he missed three free throws, switched off Franz Wagner a little too easily and then wildly missed the final shot.
A really big oof.
Grade: B+
37 minutes, 31 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 block, 12-22 FG, 5-9 3PT, 2-4 FT, -8
I don’t think LeBron deserves as much docking for missing free throws late because he only missed one, but he also wasn’t as good throughout the game.
At the same time, he was incredible in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his 31 points in the final frame. He had a couple of huge rebounds and a perfect long pass to AD for what seemed like a bucket that would help seal the game.
Before that, though, it felt like a pretty meh game from LeBron. He had a huge poster dunk but also it felt like he was drifting a bit.
Overall, this is just an odd game to grade for these guys.
Grade: B+
21 minutes, 8 points, 8 rebounds, 3-4 FG, 2-2 3PT, +1
I can’t imagine expecting much more from Reddish in a game in 2024. He knocked down both of his 3-pointers, he grabbed EIGHT rebounds and he wasn’t actively bad on the floor.
He felt like one of the few Lakers role players that actually showed up on Thursday.
Grade: A
33 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3-12 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-5 FT, -8
After a strong first half against the Jazz, Reaves has put together six incredibly stinky quarters in a row. Today was maybe his worst game of the season. Usually, when he has bad shooting nights, he can at least contribute at a medium to high level as a rebounder or passer. He did neither of those things on Thursday.
Grade: F
39 minutes, 17 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 7-14 FG, 3-7 3PT, +5
Knecht’s game almost felt disappointing if only because it was a merely mortal performance from him. If this is something close to a baseline from him moving forward — which, to be fair, is just speculation from me — then he will be more than great.
25 minutes, 5 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-2 FT, -2
I think Christie might be a victim of his own expectations, which isn’t really his fault, necessarily. I’m not sure many fans would have believed this would be considered a good Christie game if you’d shown them this stat line in the preseason.
But this did feel like a decent game from him. If nothing else, he has learned how to take off on one foot when attacking the rim, a big development.
Grade: B
23 minutes, 7 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3-10 FG, 1-7 3PT, +2
While I think D’Lo has been really good as a floor general this season, there’s a floor he still has to produce at as a shooter. And Thursday was somewhere about six feet below that floor.
Grade: D-
14 minutes, +6
I just....there’s nothing to put in his stat line. He committed two fouls in 14 minutes. How many more times can you keep trotting him out.
Grade: F
10 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, 2-2 FT, -1
The fact Koloko can come in and give you passable minutes has been such a big win for the Lakers. He has his faults but it’s hard to judge him much considering how recently he just wasn’t playing basketball.
Grade: B-
Thursday’s DNPs: Maxwell Lewis, Armel Traore
Thursday’s inactives: Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Bronny James, Quincy Olivari, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.
