LeBron James returned to action on Tuesday against the Jazz after recovering from Sciatica on his right side. It marked the first time a player has ever played 23 seasons in NBA History.
The first 15 games are behind us with the Lakers posting an 11-4 start to the season, their best since 2020-2021. They are currently tied with San Antonio and Denver for the third most wins in the league. It is also the best start to a season in Luka Doncic’s NBA career. Despite the constant lineup changes and the nightly uncertainty of who might be available, they’ve found ways to win.
Tuesday’s home win over the Jazz was the first time this season that all 14 players were available to suit up. We finally got a look at what the rotation looks like with everyone available.
Lakers Put on an Offensive Clinic
The Lakers have been one of the most efficient teams all season and Tuesday was no different. They shot 60% from the field and scored 74 points in the paint. They still managed to score a season-high 140 points despite missing 11 of their 40 free throws. While they still struggle to take care of the ball (17 turnovers) they forced 18 Utah turnovers.
Luka Doncic led the way with 37 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds on 11-22 shooting. Reaves had 26 points and 5 rebounds on 7-11 shooting. Ayton had his third 20-point game in a row, making 10 of his 13 shots and grabbing 14 boards. LeBron scored 11 points on 4-7 shooting and totaled a game-high 12 assists, 7 of them coming in the 4th quarter and helped put the game out of reach.
L.A. got off to a shaky start, trailing 36 to 27 after the 1st quarter. They then go on to score 40 in the 2nd, 37 in the 3rd and 36 in the 4th. They created the separation in that 3rd quarter, outscoring the Jazz by 15 and limiting them to only 22 points.
Keyonte George gave the Lakers real issues in Utah’s 71-point first half. He finished with 34 points on 13-23 shooting to go along with 8 assists and five 3 pointers. Lauri Markkanen finished with 31 points, shooting 12-21 from the field with 5 rebounds.
The Lakers are in the midst of a 4-day break and will resume play on Sunday, a rematch against the Jazz in Utah. Their next two after that are Cup games against the Clippers and Mavericks next week.
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