The Los Angeles Lakers put together one of their strongest offensive performances of the season in a 140-125 win over the Utah Jazz. It was a high-paced, high-scoring matchup from start to finish, and the Lakers controlled the game with efficient shooting, fast-break pressure, and balanced contributions across the roster. The night also marked the long-awaited return of LeBron James, giving the home crowd plenty to cheer about.
Luka Doncic led the way with 37 points, five rebounds, and ten assists, while Austin Reaves poured in 26 points on an efficient 7-for-11 shooting night. Deandre Ayton dominated the interior with 20 points and 14 rebounds, and James added 11 points and 12 assists in his first game back. Nearly every key rotation player made an impact as the Lakers shot close to 60 percent from the field (50-84).
On the other side, the Jazz stayed competitive behind strong outings from Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George. Markkanen finished with 31 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while George added 34 points, four rebounds, eight assists, and two steals on 5-13 shooting from three. Utah kept pace early, but their defense struggled to contain the Lakers depth and shotmaking as the game progressed.
Now that the dust has settled on a strong team win, it is time to break down every Lakers performance with our full player grades, starting with the MVP of the night: Luka Doncic.
Luka Doncic: A+
Game Stats: 37 PTS, 5 REB, 10 AST, 4 STL, 0 BLK; 11-22 FG, 2-10 3PT, 13-16 FT; 34 MIN
Luka looked comfortable all night long. As usual, he was getting to his spots, which created a steady offensive rhythm throughout the game. While LeBron’s return did take some of the spotlight, he was clearly the Lakers alpha tonight, and his shotmaking earned constant attention from Utah’s defense. In 34 minutes, he finished with a game-high 37 points, five rebounds, and ten assists on 50 percent shooting.
Austin Reaves: A
Game Stats: 26 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK; 7-11 FG, 1-4 3PT, 11-12 FT; 33 MIN
Reaves is having a career year for the Lakers, and the streak continued tonight in another excellent showing. This time, his success came from the free throw line, where he shot 11-for-12. He was active and aggressive from start to finish, keeping the Jazz on their heels and providing steady scoring with 26 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal on 63.6 percent shooting and 25 percent from three. At this stage of his career, Austin has emerged as the Lakers scoring leader offensively, and the team is thriving because of it.
Deandre Ayton: A-
Game Stats: 20 PTS, 14 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK; 10-13 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-2 FT; 29 MIN
Deandre Ayton has been a pleasant surprise for the Lakers this season. After failed stints in Phoenix and Portland, expectations were modest, but tonight was another game where he proved his worth. His size and touch around the rim gave the Lakers the interior presence needed to challenge Utah’s frontcourt. While Lauri Markkanen still went off for 32 points, the Lakers controlled the glass, finishing with 42 rebounds thanks to Ayton’s work inside. He finished with a double-double of 20 points, 14 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block on 76.9 percent shooting.
LeBron James: B+
Game Stats: 11 PTS, 3 REB, 12 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK; 4-7 FG, 2-3 3PT, 1-4 FT; 29 MIN
LeBron was the story of the night, as this marked his first game of the season. The moment was weeks in the making, as he missed the previous 14 games with a sciatica issue. He was not looking to score much tonight, often deferring to Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. By the final buzzer, he totaled a team-high 12 assists, along with 11 points and three rebounds. It was a solid debut for James, albeit a bit underwhelming. He attempted only seven shots, the fewest of any Lakers starter. Still, at 40 years old, it is hard to expect much better than what he delivered.
Jake LaRavia: B
Game Stats: 16 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK; 6-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-3 FT; 25 MIN
Every good team needs a reliable bench scorer, and that is what LaRavia has become for the Lakers. He found his usual rhythm tonight, hitting big shots throughout the game, including two three-pointers. With 16 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal on 60 percent shooting and 40 percent from three, he made an impact with quick decisions, strong ball movement, and confident scoring. He is still finding his long-term place in the Lakers offense, but he has clearly carved out a trusted role as their sixth man.
Jaxson Hayes: B-
Game Stats: 8 PTS, 3 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK; 3-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-3 FT; 15 MIN
Hayes played his role to perfection. While he did not overshadow LeBron, Reaves, or Luka, he connected with them on several alley-oops and provided valuable minutes as the first big man off the bench. His size and activity were important for the Lakers in the minutes Ayton rested. Hayes finished with eight points, three rebounds, and one steal on perfect shooting. The chemistry he built with LeBron last season was evident, and it paid off in their first minutes together this year.
Gabe Vincent: C
Game Stats: 6 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK; 2-3 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-0 FT; 16 MIN
It was a quiet night for Gabe Vincent. While not relied upon for scoring, he is known for the occasional hot streak. That did not happen tonight, but he did contribute with two timely three-pointers. Though he could have offered more, Vincent gave the Lakers what they needed in limited minutes and stayed within his role.
Marcus Smart: C
Game Stats: 5 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK; 2-5 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT; 17 MIN
It was a modest outing for Marcus Smart, which aligns with his expected role this season. After signing for two years and 11 million dollars, he was not expected to be a major scoring option. Against the Jazz, he contributed through defense, rebounding, and facilitating the second unit. However, he struggled with his shot and had issues staying out of foul trouble, which kept his impact limited.
Rui Hachimura: C-
Game Stats: 6 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK; 3-8 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT; 25 MIN
This was not the best performance for Rui Hachimura. The veteran forward had been enjoying one of his better seasons, but he struggled with his shot tonight, finishing with six points, four rebounds, and one assist on 37.5 percent shooting. Although he was a +14 on the night, he never found his rhythm, and the Lakers will expect more consistency from him moving forward.
