#los-angeles-lakers

#los-angeles-lakers

Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr all achieved season-best point totals as the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers notched a 123-115 victory over the hosts Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. Ayton had 29 points on 14-of-19 shooting and collected 10 rebounds and three blocked shots against his former teammates. Hachimura had 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Little-known guard Smith was the biggest surprise with 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range.

"And I'm not being combative right now," Redick said. "I just want to acknowledge that you guys, like the last four days, like it's becoming a little bit obsessive with all these questions about opportunities lost. So, I will answer it again. These are the cards that we were dealt. I sure would like everybody to be healthy."

Natalia Bryant has made her debut as a creative director with a short film that features a subject matter with which she's very familiar. The 70-second piece is called "Forever Iconic: Purple and Gold Always," and it's all about the worldwide impact of the Lakers - something Bryant has experienced throughout her life as the oldest daughter of one of the Lakers' great icons, Kobe Bryant.

Wiggins, 30, will earn $28.2 million this season and holds a $30.2 million player option for 2026-27. I wouldn't have classified him as a potential purple-and-gold target before Dončić's long-term future was secured, but things are different now. So my sense is that the Lakers would have interest if the Heat, in coming weeks or months, decide to prioritize financial flexibility and look to reduce payroll.