With the playoffs fast approaching, Jarred Vanderbilt and Luka Doncic have emphasized that the most important factor for the Los Angeles Lakers down the stretch isn’t just stacking wins—it’s staying healthy and getting rest.
Following the Lakers’ impressive 120-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets, Vanderbilt was asked what the team’s biggest focus should be for the remainder of the regular season aside from improving their playoff seeding. His response was clear:
“Getting healthy, that would be number one. Getting healthy, getting rest, you know, with this stretch and trying to get some reps together. Like I said, the main thing is just getting healthy so we can try to keep building our chemistry.”
Off-camera, Doncic quickly chimed in with his own priority:
“Rest.”
Akws Jarred Vanderbilt what’s the most important thing for the Lakers to do between now and the end of the regular season, other than stack wins to climb the standings. “Getting healthy,” Vanderbilt said. Off camera, Luka Doncic chimed in too: “Rest.” pic.twitter.com/Z2hhgQrKG6
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 20, 2025
Injuries have been a consistent issue for the Lakers all season. Several key players have missed significant time, affecting their chemistry and ability to play at full strength.
Jarred Vanderbilt has been sidelined for 43 games, Rui Hachimura has missed 18, Jaxson Hayes has missed 25, and even LeBron James has sat out 10 games. Additionally, Doncic himself missed two months before being traded to the Lakers due to a calf injury.
Now, as they navigate one of the toughest stretches of their schedule, staying healthy is critical. The Lakers are currently 43-25, which places them third in the Western Conference. However, they are in the midst of a grueling run of five back-to-back games in just 28 days, making player health and rest crucial as they try to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The victory over the Denver Nuggets was an encouraging sign, showcasing the Lakers’ ability to win without LeBron James. The team exploded for a 46-point first quarter and never looked back, proving they can dominate even without their leader.
Luka Doncic had another stellar game, finishing with 31 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in just 32 minutes. Austin Reaves stepped up as well, scoring 22 points with 8 assists, while Dorian Finney-Smith contributed 14 points on 71.4% shooting.
For Denver, Aaron Gordon led the way with 26 points and 11 rebounds, but without Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets didn’t have the firepower to keep up with a deep Lakers squad.
With only 14 games remaining, the Lakers need to balance winning games while prioritizing health. Given their brutal upcoming schedule, featuring multiple back-to-backs, resting key players at the right time will be essential.
If LeBron, Luka, and the rest of the team enter the playoffs healthy, the Lakers will be a dangerous team in the West. Vanderbilt and Doncic’s priorities are clear: get healthy, get rest, and keep building chemistry. If they do that, the Lakers could position themselves as legitimate championship contenders once the playoffs begin.
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