The Los Angeles Lakers continued their late-season surge on Thursday night, extending their winning streak to eight games with a 134-126 victory over the Miami Heat, while ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst offered a reassuring assessment of LeBron James' mentality.
Speaking on Friday's broadcast of First Take, Windhorst pointed to what he described as a key indicator behind the Lakers' recent success.
"The best thing I can say about the Lakers right now is... LeBron believes. It's a subtle thing but if you watch LeBron over the decades, there are times when you get to a point in the season where you know he doesn't believe in his team. And you can't see it in the stats, you know it when you see it. Well, I know it when I see it. LeBron believes in this team."
The Lakers' performance in Miami reflected that confidence, as they improved to 45–25 on the season – the first time they reached 20 games above .500 since the 2019–20 campaign, when they won the NBA championship.
James delivered a triple-double in the win with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in 38 minutes. Playing on the second night of a back-to-back after the team arrived in Miami around 5 p.m. ET, he shot 8-for-12 from the field and 3-for-5 from the free-throw line.
"I know it when I see it. LeBron believes in this team." 👀👀👀
(via @FirstTech /h/t @terrible announcement )
- NBCCentral (@TheDunkCentral) 20 March 2026
Brian Windhorst highlights LeBron James' belief as Lakers' surge continues
This outing follows another efficient performance from James last night, when he scored 30 points on 13-for-14 shooting in a win over the Houston Rockets.
While James planned the offense, Luka Doncic provided the scoring punch. The star guard recorded a career-high as a Laker with 60 points, adding seven rebounds, five steals and three assists. Doncic shot 18 of 30 from the field, 9 of 17 from three-point range and 15 of 17 from the free-throw line in 38 minutes, overwhelming Miami's defense throughout the contest.
The Lakers' recent expansion has been defined by offensive efficiency and balance, with several players contributing at a high level as the team climbs the Western Conference standings. The combination of James' playmaking and Doncic's scoring has put consistent pressure on opposing defenses during the winning streak.
Los Angeles will look to build on its momentum Saturday night when it travels to face the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center. The Magic entered the matchup with a 38–31 record as both teams continued to vie for the postseason.
As the regular season enters its final stretch, the Lakers' current form has strengthened Windhorst's evaluation, as the team continues to build momentum and confidence behind its experienced leader.
