In a game where Luka scored 49, the biggest play for the Lakers was a missed dunk https://t.co/qnnC74ThjE— LakerTom (@LakerTom) October 26, 2025
In game where Luka scored 49, biggest Lakers play was missed dunk
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October 26, 2025 1 Comment
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Deandre Ayton sat at his corner locker with a dark towel over his head, mostly hidden until he thought about one play Friday night that involved him setting a screen for Luka Dončić and missing a dunk.
As he realized the moment he was being asked about, his eyes opened wide and he removed the towel.
“I told Luka, I said, ‘Yo bro, you have power.’ Like I’ve seen true power today,” Ayton told The Athletic. “Like I seen four dudes on him. Bro, I set the screen and it was like they had to bring four.
“What the f—?”
And then Ayton missed a dunk.
Still, he can be forgiven for the exaggeration (Dončić was double-teamed). And for the cursing. Ayton was excited.
Because this play, maybe more than any other in the Lakers’ 128-110 win against Minnesota, fueled hope inside the locker room that this year’s team is more talented and has a higher ceiling than last year’s.
On a night where Dončić scored 49, the most exciting moment was a slick pick-and-roll.
In the third quarter, Ayton set a high screen for Dončić, who caught a double team from Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. Dončić whipped the ball from the right wing to the left to Austin Reaves. Ayton’s man, Rudy Gobert, sprinted out to Reaves.
And then Ayton ran toward the basket.
Reaves hit him with a pass, and a lane opened in front of him. Julius Randle ran from the corner to the rim to challenge, and Ayton tried to dunk with his left hand. The ball rimmed down and out (he might’ve been fouled). Rui Hachimura grabbed the rebound, scored and was fouled.
But after the play, Reaves and Dončić went right to Ayton, pounding him on the chest.
“We loved it,” Dončić told The Athletic, saying it was the best executed pick-and-roll the team has run with Ayton so far this season.
“We want him to do that,” Dončić said.
“One thousand percent,” Reaves added. “I don’t care if he missed.”
The Lakers, like Phoenix and Portland before them, want to see Ayton put his immense physical talents to simple use like this, attacking the basket with forceful intention. And while there have been some glimpses, there hasn’t been much proof of concept for Ayton’s chemistry with the Lakers’ best ballhandlers.