Overview
- Nick Smith Jr., on a two-way deal after being waived by Charlotte, came off the bench for 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting with 5-of-6 from three and six assists in 27 minutes.
- Deandre Ayton posted 29 points and 10 rebounds and Rui Hachimura added 28, combining for 57 to anchor the frontcourt scoring.
- Los Angeles played without LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves yet improved to 6–2 with a fourth straight victory and a 4–0 road record.
- Redick highlighted “Confidence. Belief. Connectivity,” as ESPN Research noted the Lakers already have six different 25-point scorers in their first eight games, a rarity last matched by the 1971–72 Lakers.
- The Lakers erased a nine-point third-quarter deficit and sealed the game on Smith’s late back-to-back threes, with Spectrum SportsNet reporting he played while ill.