The Los Angeles Lakers, playing without LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, earned a 123-115 road victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night, extending their winning streak to four games and improving to 6-2 on the season.
Head coach JJ Redick’s lone available guards on the second night of a back-to-back were Nick Smith Jr., Marcus Smart and Bronny James. Despite the limited rotation, the Lakers received 29 points and 10 rebounds from Deandre Ayton, 28 points from Rui Hachimura and a 25-point spark off the bench from Smith. The performance surprised many observers who viewed the lineup as a signal that Los Angeles might concede the contest.
Redick credits ‘connectivity’
After the game, Redick highlighted the team’s chemistry during an interview with Spectrum SportsNet.
“We’ve got a good group,” he said. “I’m excited about what we could potentially be. The bench was awesome tonight, our huddles were awesome. We expected to win, and our guys held that belief all night.”
The coach added that the roster’s strong communication has been driven largely by the players themselves. “The best teams are always player-led,” Redick explained. “Those small interactions on the court—holding each other accountable—are really valuable. You can’t win in this league unless you play hard, and these guys have been awesome for the last seven games.”
Unexpected contributions from Nick Smith Jr.
Smith, signed to a two-way contract after being waived by the Charlotte Hornets, capitalized on expanded minutes created by injuries to Doncic, Reaves, Gabe Vincent and Smart earlier in the year. The 2023 first-round pick revealed postgame that he scored 25 points while battling an illness.
The Lakers have yet to see James in uniform this season, and Doncic has missed four of eight games, but the early results suggest the team is establishing the culture Redick hoped to build entering his second year on the sideline.
Source: Lakers Nation
