The Lakers are on fire, winning 6 of their first 8 games this season after beating Portland 123-115 on Monday night. They’ve now won four straight and sit third in the Western Conference.
And they’re doing it all without LeBron James.
With James sidelined until at least mid-November with sciatica, the team has found success through incredible offensive balance. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been leading the charge, but they’re getting help from everywhere.
In fact, the Lakers just made NBA history as the first team ever to have six different players score 25+ points over a two-game span.
Sunday’s home game against Miami showcased Doncic’s brilliance with 29 points and 10 assists. Reaves added 26 points and 11 assists, while Jake LaRavia came off the bench to drop 25 points in 35 minutes.
Then on Monday in Portland, it was a completely different trio doing the damage.
DeAndre Ayton dominated with 29 points, Rui Hachimura poured in 28, and second-year guard Nick Smith Jr. contributed 25 points in just 27 minutes off the bench.
That’s six different players hitting the 25-point mark in just two games – something no NBA team has ever done before.
What’s really impressive is how the Lakers have managed without their stars at times. They’re 3-1 in games Doncic has missed, largely thanks to Reaves stepping up in a big way. He’s averaging a whopping 31.1 points through his first seven games.
The road hasn’t bothered them either. They’re a perfect 4-0 away from home, putting up 120 points per game in those contests.
First-year head coach JJ Redick deserves huge credit for keeping the team rolling despite missing LeBron. The balanced scoring they’ve shown in these last two games could be a preview of what makes them dangerous come playoff time.
The Lakers will look to extend their winning streak when they host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
