The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz on Thursday night in a high-scoring affair that saw Luka Doncic secure a 45-point triple-double and LeBron James record 28 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. The game moved the Lakers to 19-7 to stay in third place in the Western Conference and showed just how potent their offense can be, even without Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton in the lineup.
The game also had one very scary moment in the second quarter. LeBron took knee-on-knee contact from Jazz rookie Walter Clayton Jr. and needed time before recovering and staying in the game. For a moment, it was almost reminiscent of the injury caused by Solomon Hill in the 2020-21 season.
But the Lakers star eventually shook it off and looked fine. He spoke after the game about what exactly transpired and how lucky he felt to seemingly be OK, via Spectrum SportsNet:
“Just a little bump to the knee, like a sharp pain to the knee. I got kneed on the inside, kind of like the medial side of the knee. Just kind of wanted to take my time a little bit as it calmed down or whatever the case may be, hoping it calmed down. I told Mike (Mancias), my trainer, I told him that we dodged a bullet there.”
What makes the potential for injury all the more scary is that James suffered the most significant knee injury of his career at the end of last season, which was to the same knee:
“Same side, yup. Same side.”
James recognized, though, that part of the concern is the mileage he’s racked up at this age and how it magnifies any possibility of a major injury:
“I mean, I was just praying for the best, for sure. Like you said, the miles that I got and the minutes and the years, I’m a little over a week from turning 41. Certain plays and things that you don’t want to happen, it can be anybody, it doesn’t matter if you turn 41 or 21. You take a knee to the inside of your knee at that type of speed, it can be alarming. So like I said, I’m just very grateful and thankful that nothing came out of it at that point. Obviously we got a flight to get on, that’s gonna be the most important, how I feel once I get on this plane and land back in L.A. But I think I’ll be OK.”
The Lakers play again on Saturday night against the L.A. Clippers at the Intuit Dome, and it remains to be seen if LeBron will be in the lineup for that game. Without Reaves, the Lakers may need James. But the Clippers also hold one of the worst records in basketball, and Doncic alone may be enough to get a win.
JJ Redick credits Lakers defense in second half
Head coach JJ Redick hasn’t been pleased with the Lakers’ defense during the 2025-26 season, especially recently as the team has give up several high-scoring performances.
While the Lakers have still managed to win games, it’s clear that their defensive deficiencies could be their downfall.
Redick said he was looking at everything to fix the defense, and it appeared he might have needed to try harder as Los Angeles gave up another scoring outburst to the Jazz.
L.A. allowed 78 points in the first half to a Jazz team without Lauri Markkanen. Fortunately, the Lakers were able to lock in during the second half to earn the win and Redick credited the team for tightening up defensively.
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