標籤: Redick

4 月 2 日，洛杉磯湖人隊以 139-96 輸給俄克拉荷馬城雷霆隊後，前往德克薩斯州迎戰達拉斯小牛隊的下一場比賽。在宣布奧斯汀·裡維斯遭受斜拉傷後，小牛隊的醫療團隊對裡維斯進行了核磁共振檢查。

湖人隊總教練 JJ 雷迪克聲稱，在李維斯受傷的消息傳出後不久，核磁共振檢查過程就被錯誤地完成了。 DLLS Sports 的小羅恩·哈羅德 (Ron Harrod Jr.) 表示，週二，小牛隊發表了一份聲明，對雷迪克的言論提出質疑。

「我們的醫療團隊根據當時提供的資訊遵循標準成像協議，」小牛隊的組織表示。 “執行的掃描沒有錯誤。”

這位41歲的主教練表示，湖人隊最初認為李維斯很健康，但後來得知小牛隊掃描了李維斯身體的錯誤區域。 4 月 4 日，雷迪克在與媒體成員談論此事時對這一說法一笑置之。

雖然達拉斯花時間回應雷迪克的說法，但奧斯汀·裡維斯的受傷時間表保持不變。假設湖人隊能夠晉級首輪，他預計至少會缺席季後賽首輪。由於裡維斯和盧卡·東契奇都將缺席很長一段時間，洛杉磯隊的季後賽希望看起來很渺茫。

至於小牛隊，達拉斯隊已經被排除在季後賽爭奪之外。俱樂部將等待並觀察 2026 年 NBA 選秀樂透的結果，然後再尋求任何新球員加入名單，與庫珀·弗拉格下賽季並肩作戰。

As even the most optimistic and happy people in the world can attest, all good things come to an end. On Monday night, the Los Angeles Lakers’ nine-game winning streak came to an end as they couldn’t overcome the dangerous Detroit Pistons 113-110 on the road despite the absence of Cade Cunningham. It was Dennis Jenkins who delivered the decisive blow, drilling a go-ahead liner from midrange to give Detroit a lead they would not relinquish.

Although the Lakers won’t be resting on their heels, this loss will at least give them time to think about what went wrong for them on the night and what they can do to make sure it doesn’t happen again. But for head coach JJ Redick, it was clear What LA lost on the night was that they were without two key players, Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura, to compete against the Eastern Conference leader.

“We’re a good basketball team. I believe we’re a good basketball team. Not being smart killed us tonight. It’s important for us to be healthy,” Redick said in his postgame presser, via LakersMuse on Ax (formerly Twitter).

JJ Redick says one bad game can’t undo what the Lakers have done recently:

“We’re a good basketball team. I believe we’re a good basketball team. Not being smart killed us tonight. It’s important for us to be able to get healthy.”

pic.twitter.com/ioAiMEDhEw

– LakersMuse (@LALMuse) 24 March 2026

That will be the number one goal for the Lakers moving forward: going into the playoffs with a full strength. Smart’s absence on Monday doesn’t appear to be a long-term thing, so at least this is a win for LA despite their losing streak on Monday.

Lakers outclassed by Pistons in clutch

The Lakers and Pistons both entered the night with 24 wins each by single digits, as they are two of the best clutch teams in the NBA. But even without Cunningham, the Pistons had plenty of time in crunch time, with Jenkins making it happen.

The Lakers have one more game left on their current road trip, which is a game against the weak Indiana Pacers, so this is at least a golden opportunity for them to start another winning streak.

JJ Redick saw a ray of hope in LeBron James’ performance despite him not scoring in the first half of the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.

James is playing the 23rd season of his famous NBA career, his eighth with the Lakers. Even at the age of 41, he remains one of the best veteran stars in the league.

However, he is also prone to cooldown strains during play. It was the same against Detroit as he posted six assists and four rebounds while going scoreless in the first half.

Redick reflected on James’ first half performance after the game. He described the outing as a selfless outing, trying to make the right play rather than forcing shots.

Redick said, “I thought he played a really unselfish game… I thought he not only tried to score, but did a good job making the right plays as usual and he got 10 assists.”

“I thought he played a really unselfish game … I thought he not only tried to score, but did a good job of making the right play as usual and he got 10 assists.”

Lakers head coach JJ Redick on LeBron James’ 0-point lead in the first half.

(via @nba)pic.twitter.com/pcOa7SsB5o https://t.co/kst5aliqve

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

LeBron James, how the Lakers played against the Pistons

It was a quiet scoring night for LeBron James despite his stellar efforts. The Lakers still competed with the Pistons, even though they lost a close game 113–110.

Five players, including James, scored in double figures for Los Angeles in the loss. He finished the night with 12 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds and one block. Luka Doncic led the team with 32 points and seven rebounds, Austin Reeves came next with 24 points and five assists, Deandre Ayton had 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Jaxson Hayes provided 11 points and four blocks.

Los Angeles fell to a 46–26 record on the season, maintaining third place in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, while trailing the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Lakers will look to bounce back by remaining on the road in their next match. They will take on the Indiana Pacers as the tip-off takes place on March 25 at 7 PM ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers escaped with a 105-104 win against the Orlando Magic, courtesy of Luke Kennard’s game-winning 3-point shot. But the game could cost them as they travel to face the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Luka Doncic committed his 16th technical foul of the season, triggering an automatic suspension unless it is overturned, something Lakers head coach JJ Redick is hoping will happen.

After the Lakers’ win against the Magic, Redick revealed what caused Doncic’s technical foul and why the team plans to appeal it with the league.

“We’ll obviously try to cancel it out,” Redick said during his postgame press conference. “There were some things that were said in reference to Luca’s mother in a language that the referee could not understand.”

Doncic also explained the situation, noting that Goga Bitadze crossed a line when he said he should have done better for his teammates.

“You know, I let my team down by getting that last one. But honestly, I wasn’t trying to do that,” Doncic said. “He said if we don’t do it, he’ll kill my whole family. And at some point, you know, it’s a basketball court. At some point, I can’t stand it anymore [by]I have to stand up for myself. But I know I have to do better. My teammates, I know they support me. So I disappointed them today.”

“He (Goga) said he would kill my entire family. And at some point, I can’t bear it. I have to stand up for myself.”

Luka Doncic speaks on what was said about his technical foul 😳

pic.twitter.com/9j8nhnZdjM https://t.co/XQM5QY8BbS

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 22 March 2026

If the technical foul is not cleared, the Lakers will be without their star as they take on the Eastern Conference leading team. Doncic’s interactions with referees have been a topic of discussion throughout the season. According to the NBA rulebook, Doncic will be suspended for every two technicals picked up after 16. The Lakers have 12 regular season games remaining.

Once the playoffs begin, the technical foul count is reset, but the suspension trigger is set to seven.

Doncic’s condition has deteriorated amid technical problems. He has propelled himself right into the middle of the MVP race with the Lakers holding the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Their win against the Magic was their ninth consecutive, and they extended their lead over the No. 4 seed Houston Rockets to three games.

Doncic finished with 33 points, giving him the NBA’s longest active streak of scoring 30 or more points in consecutive games.

Coming into Saturday’s game, Doncic had appeared in 58 games at a rate of just over 35 minutes per game. He averaged a league-leading 33.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.6 steals with splits of 47.7 percent shooting from the field, 37 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 77.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

He also led the NBA in shot attempts at 22.5, 3-point shots at 4.0, 3-point shots at 10.8 and free throw attempts at 10.4.

As the Lakers now head to Detroit, they will wait to see if the NBA will take action after what was revealed about how the entire situation erupted.

Despite having one of the best seasons of his impressive career, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is not receiving serious MVP consideration this year. His coach explained the reason: saying the quiet part out loud.

Thursday night, Doncic once again showed why he truly is a special talent on the offensive side of the ball. In the Lakers’ 134-126 win over the Miami Heat, the six-time All-Star scored 60 points. It’s the second time he’s scored 60 — but it’s a far cry from the 73 he scored in a game against the Atlanta Hawks two years ago.

His latest offensive outburst comes a day after scoring 40 in a win over the Houston Rockets and a week after a 51-point night in a win against the Chicago Bulls. Still, these are not the results of a few weeks of heated play. Doncic has been the NBA’s best offensive player all year.

Doncic currently leads the NBA in points per game (33.4) after averaging a league leading 35.8 minutes per night. The 27-year-old also ranks second in made threes (4.0) and free throws (7.9) and third in assists (8.9). There is no better player on offense in the NBA, and with the Lakers in third place in the Western Conference, Doncic seems worthy of MVP consideration.

However, as we approach the final few weeks of the regular season, the Slovenian doesn’t appear to be in the conversation for the award with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, Victor Wembanyama and Cade Cunningham.

Is Luka Doncic’s reputation for complaining ruining his MVP chances?

Lakers head coach JJ Redick explains why Luka Doncic isn’t featured more prominently in MVP discussions: “Because he complains to the refs, I don’t know”
By u/oat38 in the nba

After Doncic’s 60-point night, Lakers head coach JJ Redick was asked by a reporter why his top star does not appear in the NBA MVP discussion. His one simple response was saying the quiet part out loud. “Because he complains to the refs? I don’t know,” Redick said.

Redick’s nervousness is understandable, but Luka Doncic’s night arguing with the refs seemed to be at an annoying extreme and has been a topic of conversation during the season. Additionally, he has been the focus of several viral videos this season regarding his complete lack of effort on defense.

Still, is his offense and defensive effort still enough to warrant NBA MVP consideration given the kind of numbers he’s posting on offense? It will be interesting to see how the final votes look in a month.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

JJ Redick heaped praise on Luka Doncic after he stunned the Nets in the Los Angeles Lakers’ win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

Doncic is going through the eighth season of his NBA career, his second with the Lakers. He has made significant progress in his adaptation to Los Angeles, which has become a key factor in the team’s chances of success.

In 38 minutes of action, Doncic lit up the court from nowhere against Miami’s defense. He finished with a stat line of 60 points, seven rebounds, five steals and three assists. He made 18 of 30 shots from the field, including 9 of 17 from beyond the arc and 15 of 19 from the free-throw line.

Redick reflected on Doncic’s hot stretch of scoring after the game. After Thursday night, the Lakers superstar has scored 51 points, 30 points, 36 points and 40 points in the team’s winning streak. This resulted in the head coach praising Doncic’s remarkable efforts.

Reddick said, “His teammates are enjoying it just as much as him right now… It’s a special race.”

Luka Doncic, how the Lakers played against the Heat

JJ Redick and the Lakers are happy to see Luka Doncic getting hot at a crucial time. Los Angeles is coming off a big win, moving it up in the conference standings and the playoff picture.

Four players scored in double figures for Los Angeles in the win, including Doncic. LeBron James delivered a triple-double performance of 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists on 8 of 12 shooting from the field. Austin Reeves was next with 18 points and five rebounds, while Marcus Smart added 13 points and four assists.

Los Angeles improved to a 45–25 record on the season and finished third in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets, while trailing the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Coming off the back of eight consecutive wins, the Lakers will be looking forward to their next contest. They are on the road when they face the Orlando Magic on March 21st at 7pm ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers extended their lead with a 124–116 win over the Houston Rockets, making their streak seven and improving to 9–1 in their last 10 games. Once again, LeBron James took charge on the night. At 41, he put in a performance that felt both skilled and inevitable. He finished with 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting, along with five rebounds and two assists. The matchup against the Rockets was high on energy, but LeBron controlled the Lakers’ rhythm from start to finish.

After the game, JJ Redick gave a response that immediately caught attention. “The one shot he missed, he was trying to make a foul shot. I mean, that’s the biggest thing,” Redick said. that was fast. it was funny. And it perfectly demonstrated how dominant LeBron was. A miss occurred only because everything else went in.

JJ: “One shot (LeBron) missed, he was trying to draw a foul. That’s the biggest thing” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/wu2L2pxfoL

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 19 March 2026

LeBron also missed both of his three-point attempts. Every touch seemed deliberate. Every move felt calculated. Under the lights, it didn’t look like this was a player in the prime of his career. It seemed like the perfect order.

Lakers finding form at the right time

The Lakers just aren’t winning. Instead, they are building something. The difference is clearly visible. Meanwhile, decision making feels rushed. And through it all, LeBron James has been the engine driving everything forward.

However, the rockets did not fold easily. They kept the pressure on the scoreboard and forced the Lakers to respond. Still, Los Angeles never lost control. Each of Houston’s runs received a steady answer. As a result, that balance continues to define this expansion.

More importantly, this moment feels bigger than a game. Almost a perfect shooting night. A viral quote from JJ Redick. Plus, as the season gets tougher, the team’s confidence is growing. The Lakers are on an upward trend, and the signs are becoming harder to ignore now.

So now, the question arises again: If LeBron James is playing at this level, how dangerous can this Lakers run be?

JJ Redick isn’t afraid to take a hit on the bear, even if that bear is his own superstar. Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-116 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, Redick couldn’t resist making a joke at LeBron James’ expense despite a near-perfect performance from “The King.”

James was absolutely surgical at Toyota Center, scoring 30 points on a staggering 13-of-14 shooting from the floor. He missed exactly once all night. When reporters asked Redick about the lone flaw in that historic shooting performance, the first-year head coach didn’t mince words.

“The one shot he missed, he was trying to get a foul shot,” Redick said with a laugh in the media room.

It was a classic Reddick moment, blunt, high-witted and with just the right amount of sarcasm. While the coach was clearly joking, his comments highlight the loose, confident atmosphere around this Lakers team. Los Angeles has now won seven straight games and 10 of their last 11, improving their record to 44-25 and solidifying their place near the top of the Western Conference.

James wasn’t the only person cooking in Houston. Luka Doncic continued his MVP-caliber campaign with a 40-point masterpiece that included 10 assists and nine rebounds to carry the load at the end of the fourth quarter. The Lakers shot 61% as a team, making life miserable for the Rockets defense, which welcomed Alpern Sengun. Sengun finished with 27 points and 11 assists, but it wasn’t enough to stop the purple and gold juggernaut.

The win completes a two-game sweep of the Rockets and serves as another reminder that the James-Doncic partnership is officially on the way. With Redick steering the ship and the stars playing it efficiently, the Lakers are looking like the most dangerous team in the West in April.

The Los Angeles Lakers recorded their seventh consecutive win by defeating the Houston Rockets 124–116 at the Toyota Center.

The Lakers swept the Rockets in their back-to-back contests, with Luka Doncic and LeBron James combining for their best performances of the season.

Doncic had a near triple-double of 40 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, while James added 30 points, missing only one of his 14 attempts. He also had five rebounds and two assists.

Doncic had seven three-pointers, including a dagger in the final minute, giving them a nine-point lead. After the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick was asked what Doncic said after hitting the shot. In response, Redick told a joke.

“I’m very excited to go to Miami,” Redick said, per Benjamin Royer of the OC Register.

There is no time to rest for the Purple and Gold as they face the Miami Heat on Thursday at Kasia Center.

Redick has talked about his busy schedule this season and reiterated that he has to deal with it and do his job as a professional.

The 27-year-old Doncic has been poor in his recent win streak, averaging 38.7 points. He has reached 40 points for the third time in seven matches. He is on his way to winning his second scoring title.

At the risk of spoiling it, it looks like the Lakers are peaking at the right time. With great play from Doncic and James, Austin Reeves regaining his form, Deandre Ayton learning to buy in and Marcus Smart playing his role perfectly, they will pose a real threat in the playoffs.

This is not a joke.

LeBron James is a veteran of the NBA. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like it, but the Los Angeles Lakers are already on the wrong side of 40 this season. Even though he’s already older than everyone in the league, LA still relies on LeBron more than fans would like to see him power through the season.

It’s clearly working: The Lakers are in third place in the crowded Western Conference with a 42-25 record and trail the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. However, everyone knows that Los Angeles needs to find a way to involve James less in order to preserve him for the remainder of the season. Lakers head coach JJ Redick echoed this sentiment before their game against the Houston Rockets, but also highlighted that LeBron was at his best when he was used as more than a regular player.

According to Benjamin Royer, Redick said, “He was and still is a high-usage player compared to your average player.” The best thing for our team is he’s the third most used player, you know, and obviously he had to work more during parts of the year because of injuries or guys being out of the lineup.

Although James is no longer the solo world-beater he once was, the Lakers star still has great confidence in him. In terms of scoring, James is the third leading scorer after the All-Star break with 18.7 points per game in 10 games. He trails Luka Doncic (32.7) and Austin Reaves on the Lakers’ scoring list. James is also adding 5.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game, as he has handed control of the offense to both Doncic and Reaves.

James and the Lakers are looking for their first championship since arriving in the bubble in 2020. Los Angeles had come close in previous years, but they never got back to the Finals. Will this be the year James wins his sixth championship and matches Michael Jordan’s six rings?

On Saturday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers picked up one of the biggest wins of the 2025-26 NBA season with a thrilling overtime win over the Denver Nuggets. It looked like the Lakers were dying for possession in the final seconds of regulation, but Austin Reaves’ intentionally missed free throws were executed to perfection, and Luka Doncic ultimately won things for Los Angeles in the extra frame.

After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick attempted to expand his vocabulary to explain how the Lakers are coming together at the right time.

“Is ‘coalesces’ a word? Is it the right word? To come together?”. Redick asked, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I think it feels like we’re coming together pretty well right now. There’s still a long way to go, but definitely optimistic about how we’ve handled this run of games. … It’s big time.”

The Lakers are currently on a five-game winning streak, and have suffered losses to some tough competition, including both the Nuggets and New York Knicks last week. The questions about the Lakers’ defense are beginning to subside, as Los Angeles has played some better basketball on that end of the floor amid its winning streak.

Los Angeles currently sits in third place in the Western Conference, the same spot where they finished the regular season a year ago, and as the NBA Playoffs approach, the team certainly looks to be playing its best basketball at the right time.

It also helps that Los Angeles remains mostly healthy, as Reeves, Doncic and LeBron James are getting a chance to consistently share the floor for the first time all season.

Los Angeles will take the field for the first of two road games versus the Houston Rockets on Monday evening.

On Saturday night, the Los Angeles Lakers picked up their fifth consecutive win with a narrow home win over the Denver Nuggets in overtime. Los Angeles needed some late-game magic to pull it off, including a tying shot from Austin Reaves in regulation and a game-winner from Luka Doncic in the extra frame.

It was also a solid night for LeBron James, who scored 17 points with six rebounds and five assists, but the play that drew the most attention was a full-out dive for the basketball in the closing minutes to help save possession for Los Angeles.

LeBron is putting his body on the line!!!!

This man is about 50 years old 😭😭😭

pic.twitter.com/RWJLA6wXh7

– LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) 15 March 2026

After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick reacted to the game.

“I told [James] After the game, I said, ‘In 23 years of watching you play in the NBA, in the three years I watched you play in high school, I’ve never seen you do a full-out extension dive like that,’ Redick said, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “He said, ‘You’re right, I’ve never done that.'”

Truly, it was an epic game, especially for a 41-year-old with 23 years of NBA mileage on his body.

The win moved the Lakers into third place in the Western Conference as the 2025–26 NBA season nears its home stretch, and it also gave them their fifth consecutive win overall. Los Angeles has been playing some better basketball over the past few weeks, especially on the defensive end, which is the area that has given them the most trouble over the past two seasons.

Los Angeles will take the field on Monday evening for the first of a two-game road set against the Houston Rockets, which could be a potential playoff matchup next month.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers continued to move forward and won their fourth consecutive game with a 142-130 victory against the Chicago Bulls. The story of the night was Luka Doncic who dropped a career-best 51 points for the Lakers in the win. After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick commented that Doncic’s recent games were not being discussed enough.

“He’s playing as good as any other player in the NBA right now, and I think that’s probably not being talked about,” Redick said during his postgame press conference. “But I’m going to talk about it.”

Once Luka Doncic reached 51 points, at the end of the fourth quarter, the Lakers committed an intentional foul to take him out of the game. He finished just one assist shy of a triple double with 10 rebounds and nine assists. He shot 17 of 31 from the field, 9 of 14 from the 3-point line, and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line.

Early in the game, Doncic talked some trash with Bulls young gun Matas Buzelis, a conversation that seemed to infuriate him. For Redick, one of the most impressive things about Doncic is his ability to stay focused between these little one-on-one battles.

Luca has words for Matas Buzelis after stepback trey

Doncic is one technical away from automatic suspension.pic.twitter.com/cMpQDODafo

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 13 March 2026

“It’s a unique quality. It’s not just the fact that he reacts to any kind of rude behavior or trash talk, but that he can broadcast it,” Redick said. “He can channel that while also doing all the other things that need to be done. That’s obviously reflected in his defensive rebounding, his assists, his steals. Another game where he gets a high assist number with low turnovers.”

Over the last 10 games, Doncic has 22, 41, 26, 28, 27, 27, 44, 35, 31 and now 51 points. The Lakers have gone 7-3 in that span with a few wins against very good teams in the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves. As the Lakers have climbed up to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings, Doncic has begun to garner MVP buzz again.

This season, he leads the league in scoring (32.5 points), field goal attempts (22.0), 3-pointers attempted (3.8), 3-pointers attempted (10.4) and free-throw attempts (10.2). He is shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 36 percent from the 3-point line and 77.4 percent from the free-throw line.

The Lakers have just one home game remaining, with another big test with the Denver Nuggets coming to town on Saturday. They then took the field for six games before returning home to conclude the month.

When the Los Angeles Lakers’ injury report came out for their game against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, veteran guard Marcus Smart had a surprising addition. Smart played just 31 minutes, providing his usual energy and intensity in the team’s win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Marcus Smart was originally listed as questionable for the Lakers’ game against the Bulls, then ruled out just hours before tip-off. Before the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick revealed that Smart had been dealing with a hip injury for the past few games, and the team wanted him to get some rest before another abbreviated stretch of the schedule, according to Thuc Nhi Nguyen of The LA Times.

Redick also mentioned that the team is hoping Smart can make his return to the lineup for the Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. This is the team’s last home game before embarking on a six-game road trip.

Smart has been one of the Lakers’ most impactful players this season after signing a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards over the summer. While Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves are the team’s top players, it can be argued that Smart is the Lakers’ fourth-best player in terms of overall impact.

Although he began the season on the bench, Smart moved into the starting lineup when Reeves was sidelined with injury. Upon his return, Smart remained among the starting players with Rui Hachimura moving to the bench.

Smart has appeared in 55 games this season, including 48 starts, averaging a little over 28 minutes per game. He averaged 9.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 39.9 percent from the field, 33.6 percent from the 3-point line and 80.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Although Smart’s shooting efficiency hasn’t been great, his statistics don’t tell the whole story. During the Lakers’ win against the New York Knicks last Sunday, Smart shot just 1 of 10 from the field, but the Lakers were clearly excited by his defensive intensity and overall toughness.

After the win against the Knicks again, Redick explained how Smart’s impact was not measured in shots made or missed.

“Smart was 1-of-10 and plus-27. He had a really, really impressive game,” Redick said. “I think by the end of the third quarter, we had a comfortable lead, but when we turned the ball over at the end of the quarter, it saved two points. [Jordan] “Clarkson has to pass it.”

The Lakers will certainly hope Smart is back in the lineup when they face off against the Nuggets on Saturday, a big game with potential playoff seeding on the line.

The Los Angeles Lakers have quietly played their best basketball of the season, winning three in a row and going 5-1 in March. It is noteworthy that the team has relied on strong defense to defeat the teams. According to a post from The Athletic, coach JJ Redick has been encouraged by the Lakers’ improved defense in wins over the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

“We’re not going to be the No. 1 defense in the league. But to be above average, to have two performances in a row against those two teams is really encouraging,” Redick told The Athletic.

The Lakers played strong defense in their 110-97 win over the Timberwolves. He held the Knicks to 42.7% from the field, including 23.5% from beyond the arc. Additionally, the Purple and Gold forced 18 turnovers. The Lakers defeated the Wolves 120-106, holding them to 46.3% from the floor, including 25% from triples. Additionally, they held Anthony Edwards to only 14 points on 2 of 15 shooting, including 1 of 10 from the three-point line.

The Lakers did so without LeBron James, who is dealing with a right hip injury and left foot arthritis. Despite wanting James in the lineup, Redick isn’t worried about him. As for the rest of the team, the Lakers coach highlighted that he wants better rim protection.

“Just the consistency of our low man, you know. We’re one of the worst teams at protecting the rim. It’s not on our big, it’s on everybody. So we had stretches where, I thought, if you look at our defensive plays, our low man is really active, our low man in the paint is producing results.”

Redick and the Lakers will hope to continue the momentum when they host the Chicago Bulls before welcoming the Denver Nuggets to the Crypto.

LOS ANGELES – LeBron James has been out of the Los Angeles Lakers lineup for three consecutive games due to a groin injury heading into Tuesday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. James has been dealing with some ailments, but Lakers head coach JJ Redick isn’t really surprised that the Lakers star needs some time off this week.

Before the Lakers’ game against the Timberwolves, JJ Redick reported that the team was always looking to give LeBron James some rest this stretch. That plan got a little intense after he collapsed on the court during the Lakers’ loss to the Denver Nuggets last Thursday.

Redick said during his postgame press conference, “We obviously want him in the lineup. As we’re approaching this stretch, and you look at six days in eight nights and two back-to-backs last week, you never know how his body will react to a game and how his foot will react.” “So that doesn’t mean I expected him to miss a game, it wouldn’t surprise me if he needed a day or two to let his body heal.

“The truth is that he collapsed in Denver, he’s just trying to move on. He wants to be there, and so do we, and hopefully he’ll be back soon.”

Redick reiterated that James is currently day-to-day, but that could mean anywhere between two days and five or six days. James has battled foot injuries all season, but was recently listed on the Lakers’ injury report with both elbow and hip soreness. Elbow and hip problems were caused by a fall against the Nuggets.

James drove to the basket and was hit by Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic. No foul was called and he was briefly out of the game before returning.

James is in the midst of a historic 23rd season in the NBA. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. James has appeared in 44 games this season, and his streak of consecutive All-NBA teams will end at 21 seasons.

James was selected to his 22nd All-Star appearance this year, while he averaged 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.1 steals, including 50.4 percent shooting from the field, 31.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line, and 74.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

LOS ANGELES – One of the prevailing stories around the Los Angeles Lakers this season has been the need for more consistent play from Deandre Ayton. With the regular season approaching, the Ayton experiment has had mixed results for the Lakers.

There have been games when Ayton looked like one of the NBA’s best centers and a consistent 20-point, 10+ rebound player. And then there are games where he’s somewhat invisible on the court. Now some of this has to do with matchups and opponents against whom Ayton is better suited. But the fact is that the Lakers are a better and stronger team when he is active and making an impact on both ends of the court.

Before the Lakers’ game against the New York Knicks on Sunday, head coach JJ Redick talked about the consistent message he has given the team throughout the season regarding getting the most out of Deandre Ayton.

“Our staff and his teammates, we definitely emphasize getting him the ball in pick and rolls when he has opportunities to duck in versus switching, or even if he gets a seal early in transition. It’s something we talk about a lot,” Redick said during his pregame press conference. “I think the way we’ve coached him has been very consistent. So ultimately, the player has to be consistent. And that’s no knock on DA, that’s just the NBA.

“We’ve been very consistent in the way we’ve trained him. We recognized early on that, maybe it’s not a change, but something we’ve had to adapt to. I think we’re hopeful and optimistic that we’re going to get a consistent version of him over the course of the season.”

To this point, Ayton has appeared in 54 games at a rate of just over 27 minutes per game. He is averaging 12.6 points and 8.2 rebounds with a split of 66.7 percent shooting from the field and 66 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Last week, Ayton drew attention to himself by suggesting that the Lakers were trying to turn him into Clint Capela, and that’s not his game.

This season, Ayton’s points per game and shot attempts (8.6 per game) are both career lows. But some of this was to be expected when playing with on-ball threats like Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

But by the numbers, Ayton has been one of the most dominant defensive players on the Lakers roster. In terms of regular rotation players, he is third in defensive rating at 115.0, behind Jared Vanderbilt and Luka Doncic, respectively. He has provided the Lakers with an interior anchor on that end.

This upcoming offseason, Ayton will have a decision to make as he has a player option for the 2026-27 season. His play later in the year and in the playoffs could go a long way toward his future on this Lakers team.

LOS ANGELES – When the Los Angeles Lakers first acquired Luka Doncic last season, he immediately developed strong chemistry with Jaxson Hayes in the pick and roll. That chemistry has continued to develop this season, and head coach JJ Redick has even built some of the Lakers’ lineups around that pairing.

Ahead of the Lakers’ game against the Indiana Pacers on Friday, JJ Redick pointed out how some of the team’s most successful lineups have included Luka Doncic and Jaxson Hayes at the same time. That lineup was able to make a positive impact on the last game against the Denver Nuggets, even though it resulted in a loss.

“We’ve had a chance to run some lineups with Jackson and Luka and shoot around that recently, and they’ve been really positive lineups for us. It gives Luka an outlet, it gives Jackson room to run,” Redick said during his pregame press conference. “He did a really good job for us last night, Jackson staying behind the defence, forcing Luka [Nikola] Jok has to make a decision there and allow that leg.”

“And sometimes, Luka was able to score the basketball. We’re not going to be able to do that every game. Denver doesn’t switch on, what we call flips or backside screens. We try to switch to blow him up,” Redick said. “The perimeter guy’s first screen last night, we were able to get some separation, and then from there it’s a quick pitch and roll from Jackson. We got a lot of good things from him.”

According to Databaller, in the Lakers’ top five offensive five-man lineup, Doncic and Hayes are both on the court. Those lineups also include players like Rui Hachimura, Jake Laravia and even rarely used Dalton Knecht, all of whom have been consistent 3-point threats at times for the Lakers.

One reason Hayes is more effective among 3-point shooters is his better decision-making ability in short rolls. He has done a much better job of being able to read defenses faster and recognize corner 3-point shooters.

And when it comes to most assists per 36 minutes when they’re on the floor together, Doncic and Hayes are in the top 10 in the league with 3.5, according to NBA.com.

There’s no doubt that Doncic and Hayes are very happy with each other when they are on the court together. Hayes gives Doncic a legitimate threat that opposing defenses have to be aware of. Defenders will have to choose their poison between Hayes getting a free lob or Doncic getting single coverage on his step-back jumpers.

Heading into the final stretch of the regular season, it will be interesting to see how Redick continues to utilize the team’s different lineups.

在过去的几天里，人们对洛杉矶湖人队主教练雷迪克和卢卡东契奇在最近战胜金州勇士队的比赛中的对抗性交流进行了很多讨论。在129-101获胜的过程中，雷迪克和东契奇等人之间的激烈争吵似乎在贾里德·范德比尔特挡住东契奇并凝视远方时开始鼓掌时被驱散。

虽然雷迪克本人此后淡化了这一事件，但根据 NBA Courtside 在 X 上的一篇帖子，一名唇语读者现在已经解读了两人之间的交流。在视频中，可以看到他准确地追踪了两人之间所说的话。

卢卡·东契奇和 JJ·雷迪克场边互动 👀

JJ：你有什么问题吗？啊？你把我的手推开。你在生气什么？

卢卡：我没有

JJ：他妈的坐下

卢卡：什么？哟！

（通过 @legendz_prod） pic.twitter.com/k8LX3Redew

— NBA 场边 (@NBA__Courtside) 2026 年 3 月 6 日

“JJ 告诉卢卡，‘你有什么问题？你有什么问题？’卢卡试图解释说他没有做错任何事，然后事情就发生了，”该读者说。

然而，当主教练要求他坐下时，东契奇最终生气了。

剪辑显示：“JJ 然后告诉卢卡‘滚吧’，他对此感到生气。”

随后东契奇站了起来，威胁要对已经开始走开的雷迪克做出回应。然而，几乎是出于本能，东契奇的队友范德比尔特跳了出来，试图化解局势。

“正如你所看到的，范德比尔特试图缓和气氛并告诉卢卡，‘来吧，坐下来。’”

当然，雷迪克本人也回应了这一争议，声称他与卢卡关系很好，并认为这次交流完全正常。与此同时，人们对这一事件进行了很多讨论，一些人暗示湖人队的两位著名人物之间存在不和。

然而，情况似乎并非如此，读唇者也将这种交流解释为肾上腺素的结果，而不是更严重的争执。这尤其会让球迷松一口气，因为湖人队自比赛以来已经取得了三连胜。

在過去的幾天裡，人們對洛杉磯湖人隊主教練雷迪克和盧卡東契奇在最近戰勝金州勇士隊的比賽中的對抗性交流進行了很多討論。在129-101獲勝的過程中，雷迪克和東契奇等人之間的激烈爭吵似乎在賈里德·范德比爾特擋住東契奇並凝視遠方時開始鼓掌時被驅散。

雖然雷迪克本人此後淡化了這一事件，但根據 NBA Courtside 在 X 上的一篇帖子，一名唇語讀者現在已經解讀了兩人之間的交流。在影片中，可以看到他準確地追蹤了兩人之間所說的話。

盧卡·東契奇和 JJ·雷迪克場邊互動 👀

JJ：你有什麼問題嗎？啊？你把我的手推開。你在生氣什麼？

盧卡：我沒有

JJ：他媽的坐下

盧卡：什麼？喲！

（透過 @legendz_prod） pic.twitter.com/k8LX3Redew

— NBA 場邊 (@NBA__Courtside) 2026 年 3 月 6 日

「JJ 告訴盧卡，『你有什麼問題？你有什麼問題？』」盧卡試圖解釋他沒有做錯任何事，然後事情就發生了，」該讀者說。

然而，當主教練要求他坐下時，東契奇最終生氣了。

剪輯顯示：“JJ 然後告訴盧卡‘滾吧’，他對此感到生氣。”

隨後東契奇站了起來，威脅要對已經開始走開的雷迪克做出回應。然而，幾乎是出於本能，東契奇的隊友范德比爾特跳了出來，試圖化解局勢。

“正如你所看到的，范德比爾特試圖緩和氣氛並告訴盧卡，’來吧，坐下來。’”

當然，雷迪克本人也回應了這一爭議，聲稱他與盧卡關係很好，並認為這次交流完全正常。同時，人們對這事件進行了很多討論，有些人暗示湖人隊的兩位著名人物之間存在不和。

然而，情況似乎並非如此，讀唇者也將這種交流解釋為腎上腺素的結果，而不是更嚴重的爭執。這尤其會讓球迷鬆一口氣，因為湖人隊自比賽以來已經取得了三連勝。

Speculation over a possible rift between Luka Doncic and JJ Redick was put to rest Tuesday when ESPN insider Dave McMenamin publicly addressed the situation, saying there is no feud between the Los Angeles Lakers star and head coach.

Speaking on ESPN’s NBA Today, McMenamin spoke at length with league and team sources after video of Saturday’s 129-101 win over the Golden State Warriors circulated online.

“I checked with people around the league and within the team and I’ll let you know my report,” McMenamin said. “A source around the league said when they saw the video – L.A. is different, the smallest thing turns into the biggest thing. A source close to Luka told me that he and JJ have a strong, close relationship that goes back almost a decade and they are both extremely competitive and they push each other.”

The moment in question came when Doncic exited the game and headed to the bench. Redick grabbed Doncic’s wrist in an apparent attempt to talk him down. Doncic pulled out and remained in his seat, while Redick followed him. The two exchanged words before Reddick walked away. Doncic then stood as if continuing a conversation, while Jared Vanderbilt stood beside him to prevent him from moving forward.

“If you’ve been around an NBA basketball team full of guys who live to compete, sometimes it gets a little messy when they’re trying to move toward a common goal.”@mcten On the relationship between Luka Doncic and JJ Redick pic.twitter.com/T9eK9L5Tsv

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 3 March 2026

Lakers insider shuts down speculation about Luka Doncic-JJ Redick feud

The altercation quickly spread on social media, leading to speculation that there was tension between the franchise’s key player and the first-year head coach.

McMenamin continued by emphasizing the competitive context behind the exchange.

“A team source said, “Find me a star in the NBA who isn’t down in the middle of a three-game losing streak, and so it’s much ado about nothing, but we know the Internet loves to entertain itself. In this case, if you’ve been around an NBA basketball team that lives to compete, sometimes it gets a little messy when they’re trying to move toward a common goal.”

The Los Angeles Lakers have faced intense scrutiny throughout the season, especially after the high-profile acquisition of Doncic and Redick’s transition from analyst to head coach. Competitive exchanges between players and coaches are common in NBA locker rooms, especially during offseasons.

Los Angeles entered Tuesday night’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans in sixth place in the Western Conference with a score of 36-24. The Lakers will look to extend their two-game winning streak as they continue their push toward the postseason.

There are many words to describe Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic. But for coach JJ Redick, one adjective stands out, and he heard it from an old mentor.

The Lakers earned an easy win for the second consecutive night after defeating the Sacramento Kings 128-104 at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. They defeated the Golden State Warriors 129-101 on Saturday at Chase Center.

Doncic was remarkable in both games. Against the Kings, he had a game-high 28 points on 10 of 16 shooting, five rebounds and nine assists. Despite slipping on the floor in the third quarter, he made a spectacular shot.

When asked about it, coach JJ Redick had the perfect word to describe Doncic: Daring.

“Coach K always used the word ‘courageous,'” he said, referring to his former coach at Duke, Mike Krzyzewski, in a video posted by Khobi Price of the California Post.

“There is courage in Luka’s game. One of the many reasons that makes him such a special player.”

JJ Redick on this shot from Luka Doncic: “Coach K always used the word daring; daring is in Luka’s game. One of the many reasons that makes him such a special player.” https://t.co/mgJ6yaREa3 pic.twitter.com/F21IikmqFe

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 2 March 2026

Since entering the NBA as a teenager from Slovenia, Doncic has mesmerized fans with his daring performances, including making shots from beyond the three-point area and delivering nearly impossible passes.

He has mastered court angles, using his high intelligence and speed to beat defenders despite his lack of speed and athleticism.

Doncic’s highlight reel is full of how-ever shots he made, and he’ll happily add his wild bucket against the Kings to it.

Redick has known Doncic since they were teammates on the Dallas Mavericks, and while the second-year coach isn’t afraid to rein in his players, he wouldn’t dare demand his prized star change his style.

周四，洛杉矶湖人队在抵押贷款比赛中心以 113-110 不敌菲尼克斯太阳队，遭遇三连败。

罗伊斯·奥尼尔 (Royce O’Neale) 不太可能成为疲惫不堪的太阳队的英雄，他在比赛还剩 0.9 秒时投进制胜三分球。

湖人队本有机会将比赛拖入加时赛，但奥斯汀·里维斯在最后时刻的远射投失。他们的战绩跌至34胜24负，而太阳则将战绩提升至34胜26负。

据《The Athletic》记者丹·沃伊克报道，湖人队主教练 J·J·雷迪克再次指出，他们缺乏防守是他们最近失利的一个重要因素。

“JJ雷迪克说湖人队谈到了限制他们的射手，不是在投篮命中数方面，而是在尝试次数方面。太阳队拿了50个（三分球）。他说这部分‘伤害了我们很多’，”沃伊克在X上写道。

湖人队的投篮命中率为 51%，而太阳队的投篮命中率为 46%。然而，菲尼克斯队三分球多出 11 个，三分球 50 投 22 中。

洛杉矶队本赛季允许三分球出手 36.5 次。

尽管太阳队因伤缺席两名得分手德文·布克和狄龙·布鲁克斯，但紫金队仍然未能完成任务。

自上赛季加盟湖人队以来，41岁的雷迪克多次强调防守端的重要性。本赛季他们以 48.7% 的命中率丢掉了 115.9 分——两者都处于联盟后半段。

湖人队第四节在落后12分的情况下奋起反击，获得了战胜太阳队的机会。

卢卡·东契奇拿下全场最高的41分，还有8个篮板和8次助攻。里维斯和勒布朗·詹姆斯合计得到29分、9个篮板和7次助攻。

德安德烈·艾顿（Deandre Ayton）又打了一场糟糕的比赛，得到两分和四个篮板。

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their third consecutive loss after falling 113-110 to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday at the Mortgage Matchup Center.

Royce O’Neal was the unlikely hero for the depleted Suns, draining the game-winning three-pointer with 0.9 seconds remaining.

The Lakers had a chance to send the game to overtime, but Austin Reaves missed his last-gasp attempt from deep. They fell to 34-24, while the Suns improved to 34-26.

Lakers coach JJ Redick once again cited a lack of defensive effort as a big factor in their latest loss, The Athletic’s Dan Woik reports.

“JJ Redick talked about the Lakers limiting their shooters not in terms of shots but in terms of attempts. The Suns took 50 (three-pointers). Said that’s the part that ‘hurt us a lot,'” Woik wrote on the X.

The Lakers shot a better 51% from the field compared to the Suns’ 46%. However, Phoenix had 11 more three-pointers, going 22 of 50 from long range.

Los Angeles is allowing 36.5 three-point attempts this season.

The Purple and Gold still failed to get the job done, even though Phoenix played without its top two scorers, Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, due to injuries.

Since being hired by the Lakers last season, the 41-year-old Redick has repeatedly emphasized the importance of running backs on the defensive end. They are giving up 115.9 points on 48.7% shooting this season – both in the bottom half of the league.

The Lakers came back from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to give them a win against the Suns.

Luka Doncic had a game-high 41 points to go along with eight rebounds and eight assists. Reeves and LeBron James combined for 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

DeAndre Ayton had another disappointing game with two points and four rebounds.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a slump. They have not been in good form of late, losing their last three games and five of their last seven.

The latest was another painful incident that went down to the wire, as Los Angeles suffered a clutch 3-pointer from Royce O’Neal in a 113-110 road loss to the Phoenix Suns.

The losses are really piling up for JJ Redick’s team, making the Lakers ever-more intense spotlight.

Redick also raised the same issue after the failure in Phoenix.

“Our losses stand out more than other teams. Because we’re the Lakers — and that’s how we lose,” Redick said, via Benjamin Royer of the Orange County Register.

To refresh, the Lakers were shut out by the Boston Celtics in a 111-109 loss on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, before losing 110-109 at home to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.

That magical game ending made it difficult for Lakers fans to accept the loss. Then, against the Suns, Los Angeles was defeated by a perfectly executed game by Phoenix, which also featured Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks.

Luka Doncic had 41 points in the loss to the Suns, while LeBron James and Austin Reaves combined for 29 points.

However, the Lakers were repeatedly hurt by Phoenix’s outside shooting, with the Suns making 22 3-pointers at an absurd success rate of 44 percent. It’s always tough to beat teams that shoot so well, but the Lakers could have gotten an even better performance from Doncic’s supporting cast, including Deandre Ayton, who scored just two points and four rebounds in 23 minutes.

The battle between the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic at Crypto.com Arena has a tendency to go straight down to the wire, and their contest on Tuesday night was no different. However, the Magic prevailed in the end – Wendell Carter Jr.’s putback layup proved to be the difference in a 110–109 defeat.

It looked like the Lakers had the momentum in the fourth, but their defense failed to stop them when they needed to. They took a 109–108 lead after a lazy defensive possession by the Magic that gave LeBron James room for the go-ahead wide-open dunk, but they could not complete the defensive stop as Orlando regained possession after a midrange miss from Paolo Banchero, leading to Carter’s game-winner.

The Lakers still had a chance to win, but Luka Doncic missed open three-point attempts twice to win the game, causing James to take a difficult turnaround shot for the game-winning attempt, which he missed.

After the game, head coach JJ Redick summed up The Lakers fell to 34–23 on the season.

“We’re a work in progress,” Redick said in his postgame presser via @ohnohedidnt24 on X (formerly Twitter).

JJ Redick: “We’re a work in progress” pic.twitter.com/Vjd9KZoIIq

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 25 February 2026

The Lakers’ defense needs a lot of work

The Lakers’ defense was very good in the final few months of the 2024-25 season, but it hasn’t quite clicked in this current campaign. DeAndre Ayton suffers from letdowns, Doncic and Austin Reaves have their shortcomings on that end of the field, James is aging, and the team doesn’t yet have the personnel to build a strong defensive infrastructure.

They currently rank 24th in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing 116.6 points per 100 possessions. It may take the Lakers another year or two before they can maximize the roster around Doncic.

The historic rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics took center stage at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, ending with a disappointing 111-89 loss for the home team. While the game remained competitive for three quarters, Boston fell behind in the final frame, with Jaylen Brown delivering a 32-point masterclass. The Lakers’ frustrations were further compounded when the team was whistled for three technical fouls, penalizing Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart and coach JJ Redick for arguing officiating decisions. Even Luka Doncic, who finished with a modest 25 points, mocked the situation after the game, noting that if he had not been the one receiving the technical, the officiating would have actually been questionable.

The tension centered on a few specific non-calls that left the Lakers coaching staff looking for answers. According to a post from Oh No He Didn’t on X, JJ Redick addressed three technical fouls by highlighting the missed goaltending call on a LeBron James layup.

Redick said Celtics center Neemias Queta used a “stealth” strategy that stunned him. Redick said, “They missed an obvious LeBron layup, which was scored off the backboard, and Cueta stuck his whole hand, I can’t jump that high, so he stuck his whole hand through the rim.”

The coach said he would seek clarification on the legality of the move, joking that “Honestly, it’s a great way to defend floaters.” A separate video surfaced that shows Redick attempting to mimic the reach by holding the rim himself to emphasize the point.

Wow, I didn’t know JJ could jump like that, hahahapic.twitter.com/ccdLWEt7wh

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 23 February 2026

Despite the officiating play, LeBron James gave high praise to Jaylen Brown’s ability to keep the Celtics afloat during Jayson Tatum’s absence. James acknowledged that Brown is playing with a chip on his shoulder after the Boston roster was revamped in the offseason.

While James pointed to past friction, particularly Brown’s viral Summer League comments about Bronny James, he said their relationship remains civil and respectful.

For the 34-22 Lakers, the focus now turns to controlling their emotions and finding more offensive consistency as they look to move on from this bitter loss in the rivalry.

LOS ANGELES – Former Boston Celtics legend and current Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart has a unique perspective. He is one of 42 players to wear the green and white And Purple and gold in his NBA career. He is one of the few players to play for and against Celtics head coach Joe Majulla.

That potential inside information didn’t help the Lakers when they hosted the Celtics on Sunday afternoon, as Boston left L.A. with an emphatic 111-89 win over its hated rival. However, this helped Smart come to a conclusion that others eventually began to understand as well: Mazzulla is one of the top minds in the association.

“Joe’s a great coach,” Smart said in the locker room before the second meeting of the season between the Celtics and Lakers. “And he’s been on the team, he’s watched these teams in the past, and he’s had a chance to take notes from there and make his adjustments. So, Joe is doing a really good job.”

Before Mazzulla was a head coach winning a ring and multiple 60-plus seasons, he was an assistant coach with the Celtics. And while he was largely unknown in the basketball world before Green became the team’s head coach in 2022, Smart isn’t surprised by what he’s been able to accomplish in Boston, especially this season when the Celtics were expected to struggle without star forward Jayson Tatum.

“I mean, for me personally, I’m not surprised,” Smart said. “They’ve got a lot of great players there. These guys have been playing together for a while… I definitely think they’re doing what I expected them to do, but it’s fun to watch.”

Smart’s comments came shortly after the Celtics continued their winning ways, completing a season sweep of the Lakers for the first time since the 2022–23 campaign (Smart’s final season with the C’s) and holding their historical foes to their worst offensive output of 2026.

After the 22-point win, the Celtics are 37–19 overall, an impressive 19–10 on the road, and in second place in the Eastern Conference. What they’ve been able to do with Tatum’s rehabilitation from a torn Achilles and several starters missing last season is quite impressive.

What JJ Redick had to say about Joe Mazzulla’s ‘phenomenal’ season

Even Lakers head coach JJ Redick said as much, pointing to Mazzulla’s role in the success.

“I think that’s what — there’s a handful of coaches that I think are doing tier-one jobs this year,” Redick said during his pregame press conference. “And whoever is in that group of coaches is really doing a phenomenal job.”

JJ Redick on the job that Joe Mazzulla has done with the Celtics this season:

“I think what is — I think there are some coaches who are doing a tier-one job this year. And Joe is in that group of coaches, he’s really doing a phenomenal job.” pic.twitter.com/1c66auE6A1

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 22 February 2026

While Smart and Redick, whom Mazzulla tried to hire in Boston several times, both share a relationship with the Celtics captain, their admiration is genuine and not tainted by a personal relationship. They’re just two basketball experts who have an understanding of why Mazzulla is a candidate for true Coach of the Year.

But, in Mazzulla’s mind, the Celtics haven’t accomplished much.

When asked how to summarize the Celtics’ 2025–26 season, he said after the game, “The story isn’t done yet.” “We’re just a result of what we do yesterday and what we do the next day…We haven’t done anything. All we’ve done is stick to the process of winning on both ends of the floor.”

Joe Mazzulla asked if he was angry, tired or pleased by the praise the Celtics received for their extreme accomplishments:

“Season’s 82 not 55… You can’t get stuck in what you’ve done in the past, whether it was good or bad.” pic.twitter.com/9lOWZNxzhg

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 22 February 2026

The next chapter in the Celtics’ unfinished story will feature Tuesday night’s showdown with the Phoenix Suns, who in some ways are Boston’s Western Conference counterpart, given their surprising 33-25 record.

As always, Mazzulla will use this matchup as an opportunity to improve regardless of the outcome.

“Don’t overreact to a good win or a bad loss and be better in the next game,” Mazzulla reiterated.

LOS ANGELES – When JJ Redick was first hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, he was compared to the great Pat Riley. Redick’s path to coaching followed a similar story, in that he went straight into broadcasting after retirement and had no prior coaching experience before joining the Lakers staff in 1979.

Before the Lakers’ game against the Boston Celtics on Sunday, Pat Riley was honored with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena, the latest in a long list of franchise legends immortalized outside the Lakers’ home arena.

During his pregame press conference, JJ Redick talked about Riley’s influence on coaching, along with comparisons to the legendary Lakers coach.

Redick said, “I didn’t think much about the comparisons at the time. I think Pat kind of set the standard for modern NBA coaches. I’ve always looked at the NBA as two different eras.” “You can make the demarcation point right at the time of the merger or right in 80-81 when Dallas joined as the 23rd team.”

“And that, to me, is the beginning of the modern NBA. And that’s right when the ’80s Lakers run started,” Redick continued. “Pat set the standard for what a modern NBA coach should be.”

Redick is in the second year of his four-year contract, which he signed as head coach of the Lakers through the 2024 offseason. In his first year, he led the Lakers to a 50–32 record and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoff picture.

In comparison, Riley led the Lakers to a 50–21 record after taking over as head coach during the 1981–82 season. His overall record was 57–25. The Lakers would win the title that year, starting a streak of eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances with a total of four championships.

Pat Riley’s thoughts on JJ Redick

Pat Riley’s final two seasons as head coach coincided with the first two seasons of JJ Redick’s NBA career. But even after returning to an officiating role with the Miami Heat, he had to worry about game-planning for Redick.

Although Riley has been employed by the Heat organization since 1995, he still keeps an eye on his old team, and believes they hit a home run with Redick Hires.

“I love JJ, I really do. I competed against him, my teams competed against him,” Riley said during a media availability session before the game. “Sometimes I look back and I miss that time. And I look at JJ and I think they picked the right person. I think there’s just that quality about him that goes beyond that.”

While not identical to the roster Riley was working with when he first became head coach of the Lakers, Redick had to integrate the talents of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves together. Riley believes the Lakers have a good team and the organization has put Redick in a position to succeed.

“They have a great team right here for that [Luka] Doncic and [Austin] With Reeves and obviously LeBron,” Riley said. “I think Rob [Pelinka]. . .And the new ownership will build the team to compliment those players, but they have a great opportunity. I think JJ will be a good coach for them.

洛杉矶——在最后时刻的一次失误，洛杉矶快船队有机会扳平比分，尼古拉斯·巴图姆的三分球没有命中，洛杉矶湖人队以 125-122 获胜。这场比赛自始至终都是一场高分比赛，但根据湖人队主教练JJ雷迪克的说法，这场比赛最精彩的发挥来自防守端的奥斯汀里夫斯。

比赛还不到两分钟，快船队以 118-115 落后 3 分，本尼迪克特·马图林攻击篮筐，希望打破湖人队的领先优势。但奥斯汀·里维斯（Austin Reaves）抢先一步，在比赛中发起进攻，给湖人队一些短暂的喘息空间。

卢卡·东契奇错过了关键的抛投，奥斯汀·里维斯在另一端接替本尼迪克特·马图林，被罚下场（挑战未成功）

有重播 pic.twitter.com/mVKIwNXMhX

—巴克巴克先生（@MrBuckBuckNBA） 2026 年 2 月 21 日

里维斯曾试图发起另一次指控，但没有被吹罚，按照 JJ 雷迪克的说法，如果这对湖人队有利的话，那将是决定比赛的比赛。

“我认为进攻就是比赛的关键，”雷迪克在获胜后说道。 “坦率地说，如果他们做出了正确的决定，第二项指控将是比赛的进行，但他们没有做出正确的决定……考虑到当时的情况，这是一场巨大的比赛。”

对阵快船队的比赛是里维斯小腿伤愈复出后首次回到首发阵容。在上场时间限制下，他一直替补出场。在周四下午湖人队的训练中，雷迪克承认里维斯将不再受到上场时间的限制。

里维斯上场 33 分钟，拿下 29 分、6 个篮板、2 次助攻和 2 次抢断，再次展现全明星水准。他投篮15投9中，三分线5投4中，罚球线7投7中。

“他今晚表现太棒了，”雷迪克说。 “除了两次失误和第三次交通失误之外，他打出了一个超级高效的夜晚。”

到周五的比赛为止，里维斯本赛季已经出场 28 场比赛，场均上场时间略多于 33 分钟。他场均得到25.4分、5.0个篮板、6.0次助攻和1.0次抢断，投篮命中率为50.8%，三分球命中率为36.3%，罚球命中率为86.7%。

里维斯本来有望首次入选全明星，但不幸的小腿受伤阻碍了他的机会。

湖人队在目前的主场还有两场比赛，首先是周日对阵波士顿凯尔特人队的历史对手。他们将在周二迎战奥兰多魔术队，然后上路结束这个月的比赛。

LOS ANGELES – After a late turnover-related mistake that gave the LA Clippers a chance to tie the game, the Los Angeles Lakers emerged with a 125-122 win after Nicolas Batum missed a 3-point attempt. The entire game was a high-scoring affair, but according to Lakers head coach JJ Redick, the biggest play of the game came from Austin Reaves on the defensive end.

When the Clippers trailed by three, 118–115, with less than two minutes left in the game, Benedict Mathurin attacked the basket to cut the Lakers’ lead. But Austin Reaves beat him on the spot, putting a charge on the game and giving the Lakers some momentary relief.

Luka Doncic missed a clutch floater, and Austin Reeves took a charge from Benedict Mathurin at the other end, fouled out (the challenge was not successful).

with replay pic.twitter.com/mVKIwNXMhX

– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 21 February 2026

Reaves tried to draw another charge that was not called, and according to JJ Redick it would have been a game-defining play if it had gone the Lakers’ way.

“I thought the charge was the play of the game,” Reddick said after the win. “Frankly, the other allegation was that if they had made the right call the game would have been played, which they didn’t…it was a huge play given the circumstances.”

The Clippers game was Reaves’ first game in the starting lineup since he returned from a calf injury. He was coming off the bench under a one-minute ban. At Lakers practice on Thursday afternoon, Redick acknowledged that Reaves will no longer be on a minutes restriction.

Reeves had another All-Star caliber effort with 29 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in 33 minutes. He shot a perfect 9 of 15 from the field, 4 of 5 from the 3-point line, and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line.

“He was fantastic tonight,” Redick said. “Other than the two turnovers there and the third turnover in traffic, they just played a super efficient night.”

Coming into Friday’s game, Reeves had appeared in 28 games this season, a little over 33 minutes per game. He averaged 25.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals with splits of 50.8 percent shooting from the field, 36.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 86.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Reeves was on pace to make his first All-Star appearance, but his unfortunate calf injury hindered his chances.

The Lakers currently have two more games to play at home, starting with a showdown against their historic rival at the Boston Celtics on Sunday. They face the Orlando Magic on Tuesday before heading out on the road to close out the month.

洛杉矶湖人队巨星卢卡·东契奇决定给他的主教练J·J·雷迪克准备一个惊喜。

东契奇和雷迪克正在一起度过他们的第二个赛季。后者是他担任 NBA 主教练的第二个年头，而东契奇在湖人队去年二月从达拉斯小牛队收购他后，也经历了他在球队的第二个年头。

随着东契奇在洛杉矶适应舒适的生活，两人相处得很好。他们在球场内外创造了幽默的时刻，在湖人队的一场比赛结束后，东契奇决定给雷迪克一份惊喜礼物。

东契奇上周穿着一件夹克，在场边引起了雷迪克的注意。教练对这件夹克表现出了兴趣，并让这位明星后卫注意到他订购的夹克，并在赛后一段时间交付了这件夹克。可以肯定地说，雷迪克很欣赏他的明星球员的善意举动。

“我知道你想像我一样，”东契奇在视频中对雷迪克说道。

“我知道你想像我一样。”

卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 用他上周穿的那件夹克给 JJ Redick 带来了惊喜 😅

（通过 @湖人队）pic.twitter.com/yJJjpsKHAa

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 2 月 21 日

湖人队卢卡·东契奇的下一步是什么

对于卢卡·东契奇和 J·J·雷迪克来说，这是一个互相分享的美好时刻。对于希望带领湖人取得巨大成功的主教练和超级巨星来说，相处融洽非常重要。

东契奇在职业生涯的第八个赛季都在打出 MVP 级别的表现。他场均得到32.8分、8.6次助攻、7.8个篮板和1.5次抢断。他的投篮命中率为47.3%，其中三分线外命中率为34.5%，罚球命中率为78.1%。

洛杉矶队本赛季取得33胜21负的战绩，在东部积分榜上排名第五。他们领先于明尼苏达森林狼队和菲尼克斯太阳队，落后于丹佛掘金队和休斯敦火箭队。

在对阵洛杉矶快船队之后，湖人队将为下一场比赛做准备。美国东部时间 2 月 22 日下午 6:30，他们将留在主场迎战波士顿凯尔特人队。

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic decided to prepare a surprise for his head coach JJ Redick.

Doncic and Redic are going through their second season together. The latter is his second year as a head coach in the NBA, while Doncic is in his second year with the franchise after being acquired by the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks last February.

The pair have gotten along well as Doncic has settled into life in Los Angeles. They’ve been creating comedic moments on and off the court, and after one of the Lakers’ games, Doncic decided to give Redick a surprise gift.

Doncic wore a jacket last week, which caught Redick’s attention on the sidelines. The coach took an interest in the jacket, ordered the star guard and gave him the jacket shortly after the game. It’s safe to say that Redick appreciated the kind gesture from his star player.

“I know you want to be like me,” Doncic told Redick in the video.

“I know you want to be like me.”

Luka Doncic surprises JJ Redick with the same jacket he wore last week

(via @lakers)pic.twitter.com/yJJjpsKHAa

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 21 February 2026

Luka Doncic, what’s next for the Lakers

It’s a great moment for Luka Doncic and JJ Redick to share with each other. It is important for the head coach and superstar player to get along well to lead the Lakers to major success.

Doncic is playing at an MVP level for the eighth full season of his career. He averaged 32.8 points, 8.6 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 47.3% from the field, including 34.5% from beyond the arc, and 78.1% from the free-throw line.

Los Angeles has a 33–21 record on the season, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns, while trailing the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.

Following their matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers will prepare for their next contest. They will be at home when they host the Boston Celtics on February 22nd at 6:30 PM ET.

此時，阻止聖安東尼奧馬刺隊中鋒維克托·溫班亞馬的唯一方法就是讓長頸鹿學會打籃球。但即便如此，這也將是一場勢均力敵的戰鬥。

週二，溫班亞馬在 Crypto.com Arena 幾乎憑藉一己之力摧毀了洛杉磯湖人隊，馬刺隊以 136-108 輕鬆獲勝。

這位兩屆全明星球員利用了湖人隊陣容耗盡的優勢，由於傷病管理，湖人隊缺席了勒布朗·詹姆斯、盧卡·東契奇和奧斯汀·里維斯三巨頭的比賽。溫班亞馬20投13中，拿下全場最高的40分。他還得到12個籃板、2次助攻、2次搶斷和1次蓋帽。

湖人隊主教練JJ雷迪克可能在尋找阻止溫班亞馬的方法時感到偏頭痛， 受到高度評價 對於這位22歲的明星來說。

“他是世界上最好的五名球員之一。他給自己打上了這樣的印記。對我來說，這不僅僅是他的統計數據，因為他在防守上有很多迴避，而且你必須在他的防守上有一種意識，”雷迪克在賽后會議上說道。

“他對比賽的影響並沒有體現在統計數據中。最重要的是，他是人類中的一員。你可以看到他們在過去幾年裡與他一起建立的集體信念和集體文化。”

JJ在溫比：

“他是世界上最好的五名球員之一。他給自己打上了這一印記。作為一個人，他是其中之一” pic.twitter.com/tLjMzP8Yiq

– 哦不，他沒有（@ohnohedidnt24） 2026 年 2 月 11 日

文班亞馬在第一節就拿下 25 分，很快就確立了自己作為 NBA 精英球員之一的地位，消除了早期關於他在聯盟中身體狀況可能出現問題的擔憂。

溫班亞馬的身高、技術和多才多藝的結合是非凡的，有時甚至是超現實的，尤其是當他打出一場感覺身體上不可能的比賽時。

由於他具有宇宙級別的表現，馬刺隊取得 37 勝 16 負的第三好戰績並非巧合。

即使是長頸鹿也能弄清楚這一點。