FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

The Los Angeles Lakers got a fresh update on Luka Doncic’s hamstring rehab in Europe, and there is reason for optimism.

Luka Doncic went from playing some of the best basketball of his life to boarding a flight to Europe in the span of a few days. Now, the Los Angeles Lakers have an early update on where his recovery stands.

According to Slovenian outlet Ekipa, Doncic has already wrapped up his first round of treatment in Spain. The outlet reported that “Doncic has already completed the first series of therapies,” and that he then traveled briefly to Ljubljana to spend time with his two daughters before the next phase begins.

More importantly, the report speculates he will return to Los Angeles, maybe around the start of the second round of the playoffs.

The trip to Slovenia was not a detour, it was part of the plan. A player who is mentally checked in recovers better, and with the playoffs days away, the Lakers need Doncic locked in on both fronts when he returns.

After Ljubljana, Doncic heads back to Madrid for a second series of therapies under Dr. Javier Barrio, a physician connected to Real Madrid, Doncic’s former club. This is not a random choice of location. Doncic grew up in Madrid, speaks the language, and knows the city. Comfort matters during recovery.

Luka Doncic Stem Cell Treatment Playoff Return Timeline Explained

The injury happened on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. A Grade 2 left hamstring strain typically takes four to six weeks to heal, which would rule him out for the entire first round.

But stem cell treatments and platelet-rich plasma therapy are less restricted in Europe, meaning they can be administered in more potent forms than what is available in the United States.

Medical experts have suggested this approach could cut the standard recovery timeline in half, putting Doncic back on the floor in two to three weeks. The first round starts April 18. Two to three weeks from that lands right around when a second round would begin, which matches the return window reported out of Slovenia.

That means the Lakers need to win a first-round series without him and without Austin Reaves, who is also out four to six weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain.

At 52-29 and holding at least the fourth seed in the West for the playoffs, the Lakers need LeBron James and the rest of the roster to step up and get past the first round. If they can do that, Doncic and Reaves could both be back and ready for the second round.

Doctor Warns Lakers’ Austin Reaves Oblique Injury Could Get Worse

The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a nightmare scenario heading into the playoffs, with Austin Reaves sidelined by a Grade 2 oblique strain, expected to keep him out 4-6 weeks.

Experts caution that rushing his return could lead to severe setbacks, potentially derailing LA’s postseason run. As Luka Doncic’s hamstring woes added the crisis, LeBron James steps up amid uncertainty.

Doctor’s Dire Warning on Reaves’ Oblique

In a detailed breakdown on the Hoops Rehab Show. Dr. Evan Jeffries dissected the dangers of Reaves’ injury, emphasizing fresh tissue vulnerability.

“That tissue whenever you lay down new tissue, it is brand new and fresh. That has a tendency to actually tear earlier if you come back too soon,” he stated.

He warned of short-term aggravation and long-term complications, such as reduced stability, drawing parallels to past NBA cases.

He also highlighted rotational stress in basketball, worsening oblique tears, noting pain tolerance often masks severity. His analysis aligns with reports of Reaves missing the regular season’s end, urging caution over injections like those Danny Green once used.

Why this hurts the Lakers even more

Reaves’​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ injury comes in addition to Luka Doncic’s Grade 2 hamstring strain, which means the Lakers’ starting backcourt is basically wiped out going into the postseason. The Lakers were given a four-to-six-week timeline for both players, so it’s quite probable they’ll make the playoffs without their two main offensive players and secondary playmakers.

The Hoops Rehab host put it bluntly: “I haven’t seen a a team go into the playoffs as badly injured as the Lakers have I’ve seen in a long time, especially when it comes to your star players. ”

That thought ties Reaves’ oblique concern directly into the franchise’s odds: a team that looked like a top‑three seed in the West is now navigating a minefield of soft‑tissue injuries, with each player’s return carrying a real risk of reinjury.

The LeBron angle

Adding​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ to the layers of fine-tuning, LeBron James was out for the Lakers’ vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, a decision that even the broadcast commentator deemed “a very, very, very smart decision.”

The message is clear: the 41-year-old veteran will have to be in tip-top shape for the playoffs, where his minutes and intensity will be very high with Doncic and Reaves out.

Reports now indicate that LeBron has been cleared for the next game, which looms against the Golden State Warriors. That sets up a tricky balance: use him enough to maintain game rhythm without reigniting his foot issues.

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

As long as LeBron James is suiting up for the Lakers, they remain a dangerous playoff team.

LOS ANGELES – With the Lakers playing without Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić for the rest of the regular season, plenty of people have written LA off. That’s understandable, as most teams can’t get far without their two top scorers.

However, those teams aren’t the Lakers, and they don’t employ LeBron James.

In LA’s road win over Golden State on Thursday, LeBron was brilliant. He finished the night with 26 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists to help end the Lakers’ three-game losing streak.

With the Lakers scheduled to play another game Friday night at home, LeBron, as the NBA’s oldest player, suited up for the back-to-back and raised his level of play once again.

James dominated, leading the Lakers in points, assists, steals and minutes played, lifting them past the Suns 101-73.

The back-to-back wins, paired with the Rockets’ loss to the Wolves, mean the lowest seed the Lakers can finish is fourth.

When Dončić and Reaves went down, and they lost three straight, having home court seemed like an impossibility, and even head coach JJ Redick said seeding was “out the window.”

Thanks to James’ efforts, LA will remain a top seed in a very competitive Western Conference.

“We’re gonna need him to facilitate,” Redick said postgame. “We’re gonna need him to score. We’re gonna need him to defend and rebound. I think he recognizes the task at hand. He’s very locked in. He’s played great all three games.”

It was clear from the jump that LeBron was ready to compete at a high level on Friday night.

After winning a title together on the Heat in 2006, Shaq and Pat Riley couldn’t hold it together and turned on each other pretty fast. I guess when you’re used to winning, you really can’t tolerate losing and someone must be blamed. For Riley, Shaq fit the bill. And for Shaq, well, how dare Pat Riley do such a thing. So, naturally, you get two guys in each other faces ready to kill each other because Jason Williams was late to practice one day. In other words, you get beef. Please enjoy this heaping helping of Miami beef.

He knocked down a corner three early on to put himself on the board. James then hits a trio of free throws and then another three. Then, the league’s all-time leading scorer completed this scoring outburst with an emphatic dunk.

His two-handed slam shook the basket and rocked the crowd. With 4:53 left to go in the opening quarter, James had 14 points, which was as many as Phoenix had as a team.

This isn’t new for LeBron. He has been the best player and top performer on each team he’s been on throughout most of his NBA career.

But this season, with Luka cemented as the clear No. 1 and Reaves establishing himself as No. 2, LeBron had to embrace being the third-most-important player.

To his credit, he’s done that and sacrificed for the betterment of the team. Now, due to injuries to the top guys, they’ve needed LeBron to go back in his closet and pull out his Superman cape. Luckily for the Lakers, it still fits perfectly, and he knows what to do with it.

“Just trying to make plays,” LeBron said. I had to tap back into a role that I’ve been accustomed to in the past, but obviously, it wasn’t what it was this year. But circumstances have put me back in, and I’m just trying to feed off my teammates, teammates feeding off of me and just trying to make things happen for us to continue to stay afloat.”

As is typical of LeBron’s performances, he dominated all phases of the game. In the first half, his scoring shined, but in the second, it was his defense that stood out.

LeBron was as alert as ever, swatting at balls and intercepting passes. Three of his four steals came after halftime.

In the fourth, James’ on-ball creation was on full display. He was dishing out dimes that led to easy dunks for Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber. This put the game to rest early, allowing LeBron to check out at the 6:19 mark.

With just one contest left, the Lakers can still reach the third seed if they win and the Nuggets lose.

Whether that happens or not, what’s clear is that LeBron playing at this level gives the Lakers a puncher’s chance at taking down any of the teams they’ll play in a seven-game series.

And this late in the season, that’s all any team can ask for.

😮 The Spurs now have huge incentive to go beat Denver on Sunday.Why? Because a Nuggets loss combined with Lakers win vs. Utah could drop Denver to 4th seed and elevate the Lakers to 3rd in a tight seeding race.This bracket manipulation avoids a direct second round clash with… pic.twitter.com/LMewffGA0s— SpursRΞPORTΞR (@SpursReporter) April 11, 2026

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Lakers win as teams eye matchups and play the standings.

The Lakers got an important win, beating the Suns 101–73 and securing home court advantage for the playoffs. It was also one of many games across the NBA last night shaped by calculations. Some teams rested key players, like the Suns did, while others looked to manipulate the standings, either for better lottery odds or more favorable playoff matchups.

This was the Lakers’ 52nd win of the season, another impressive achievement for a team that navigated a disjointed year marked by multiple injury absences.

Raj C.
@RajChipalu
52 wins ties the most since the 2019-2020 title season.

Have to go back 15 years in 2010-2011 (57) to find a season they won more games than this year.

No matter how this shakes out, staff and players deserve a ton of credit for this year.

10:12 PM · Apr 10, 2026 · 13.6K Views
10 Replies · 126 Reposts · 788 Likes

Not only is this the Lakers’ best regular season record since the 2019–20 title year, it’s also JJ Redick’s second straight 50-win season. Like the rest of the team, Redick had his ups and downs, but he and his staff deserve real credit for how they navigated this year.

Today’s notes:

Hard to read these games, but business had to be done

LeBron, Kennard and Rui’s offensive groove (VIDEO)

Marcus Smart back to doing smart things (VIDEO)

Ball-handling questions heading into the playoffs (VIDEO)

Everyone wants the Lakers in round one

1-Hard to read these games, but business had to be done

This was the second straight game the Lakers played against an opponent sitting key players. The Suns were without their top two on-ball creators in Devin Booker and Jalen Green, and their other guards, Grayson Allen and Collin Gillespie, only played the first half. With no real playmaking, ball-handling, or shooting, Phoenix struggled to generate any offense throughout the game. The only thing that kept them afloat early was crashing the glass off their frequent misses in the first half. Without their primary ball-handlers, the Suns fell apart offensively, with 23 turnovers and just 7-of-40 (18%) from three. Their 82.5 points per 100 possessions was the worst scoring output of any Lakers opponent this season.

To the Lakers’ credit, they played hard from the start, preventing the Suns from finding any rhythm or confidence. Their first-shot defense was at a high level for most of the night. Still, it’s very hard to take anything meaningful from these end-of-season games, when most teams are simply trying to get to the playoffs, or in the Suns’ case, the play-in, healthy.

2-LeBron, Kennard and Rui’s offensive groove (VIDEO)

The Lakers playing their last two games against lesser opposition was a much-needed break, giving the team time to adjust after the shock of the Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves injuries, and to recalibrate while establishing a new pecking order.

LeBron as the hub of the offense, Luke Kennard as the secondary playmaker, and Rui Hachimura as a second or third scoring option found a good rhythm and balance over the last two games.

LeBron had another impressive game with 28 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals. The 41-year-old set the tone from the start, scoring 14 points in the first quarter. Finding a rhythm in his jump shot, something that wasn’t there for most of the season, is crucial if the Lakers are to have any chance in the playoffs. Over the last two games, LeBron made 10-of-18 (55.6%) jump shots from outside the paint. Before that, he was at 34.8% (143-of-411) on the season.

Kennard keeps impressing in his extended starting role. He scored 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting, while adding three assists and three steals last night. LeBron and Kennard have established strong chemistry, especially in their two-man actions designed to get James a mismatch on the wing. These are the same sets we’ve seen James and Marcus Smart run earlier in the season. Postgame, James credited it to their smarts and knowledge of the game, and Kennard’s ability not just to pop and shoot, but also to roll, cut, and pass has made these actions particularly dangerous.

3-Marcus Smart back to doing smart things (VIDEO)

Smart has been one of the better success stories not only for the Lakers, but across the NBA this season. After two seasons marked by trades, injuries, and uncompetitive situations, seeing him contribute to winning basketball again feels well deserved for the former Defensive Player of the Year.

In the aftermath of the Dončić and Reaves injuries, I wrote about how Smart’s earlier absence was the first domino, creating a cascading effect on the workload of the other starters, because there is no other player on the roster who can replicate his skill set. Maybe his return after missing the previous nine games came too late, given the unfortunate events that followed, but it was still great to see him back on the court. Doing Smart things.

Smart had 6 points, 7 assists, and his usual 2 steals and 1 block in 19 minutes. His ability to contribute alongside Kennard as a secondary ball-handler and decision-maker will be key to any Lakers first-round upset hopes.

4-Ball-handling questions heading into the playoffs (VIDEO)

The Lakers didn’t face much of the usual Suns pressure we’ve seen in previous matchups, but when Phoenix turned it up in the third quarter, Hachimura and LaRavia struggled to handle the press.

This is why Smart and Kennard will be key at the start of the playoffs, trying to relieve LeBron of as much ball-handling duty as possible and taking on more of the responsibility bringing the ball up. Especially if the Lakers face an aggressive, pressure-heavy team like the Rockets. Heavy on-ball duties aren’t ideal for either of them, but the Lakers don’t have many other options.

5-Everyone wants the Lakers in round one

I mentioned teams going into calculation mode, trying to play the standings. The Nuggets rested all of their starters and still beat the Thunder, who also sat most of their key players. Without Dončić and Reaves, the Lakers have become the most attractive first-round opponent, something Redick and his staff are well aware of.

Daniel Starkand
@DStarkand
JJ Redick knows everyone wants to play the Lakers in the playoffs.

“Clearly there’s some teams that are… I’m sure everyone wants to play us, let’s get that out there. Everybody wants to play us. There’s probably teams that are in position where they can start looking forward

6:15 PM · Apr 10, 2026 · 29.2K Views
3 Replies · 29 Reposts · 475 Likes

There is just one game day left in the NBA regular season, with all teams playing Game 82 on Sunday. At the top of the West, only one spot remains undecided, the Lakers and Nuggets battling for the third seed.

Mike Trudell
@LakersReporter
LA, up 98-71 with 56.9 left, lock up home court for Round 1.

HOU is locked into the No. 5 seed, and the Wolves the No. 6.

Denver can lock in the No. 3 seed with a win at SAS; if so, LA would be No. 4 and host HOU.

If DEN loses and LA win, LA would be No. 3 and host MIN.
9:56 PM · Apr 10, 2026 · 19.2K Views
3 Replies · 52 Reposts · 385 Likes
Their win over the Thunder put the Nuggets in control of their own fate, but the Spurs could still have a say in who they prefer to face in the second round.

Rob Perez
@WorldWideWob
So…it’s in San Antonio’s best interest to run Denver out of the gym Sunday, right?

If Denver loses and LA wins (will be heavy favorites vs. UTA), the Spurs will have to face only one of DEN/OKC in the playoffs.
9:16 PM · Apr 10, 2026 · 182K Views
71 Replies · 102 Reposts · 2.55K Likes

Victor Wembanyama reached the 65-game threshold with a 40-point performance against Dallas last night (his official total still shows 64, but the NBA Cup final counts toward the threshold). Nikola Jokić, meanwhile, still needs to play in the final game to get there. How the Spurs and Nuggets approach their final matchup will be something to watch on Sunday.

Luke Kennard sees why the Lakers might be written off but is ready to prove them wrong:“We have LeBron and the way he’s been playing/leading us is incredible. No matter who we play, we will be ready on Game 1. They will come to LA first and we’re ready.” pic.twitter.com/bzlWurxdEl— LakersMuse (@LALMuse) April 11, 2026

“Two cerebral basketball players. That's why it's seamless. He's smart as hell. I'm smart as hell at this game. … It does seem like we've been playing for a while as teammates, but that’s just the knowledge of the game” – LeBron James on his instant chemistry with Luke Kennard pic.twitter.com/VAEJhFqR8e— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 11, 2026

"It's definitely going to be a challenge. … I'm excited about the challenge. I know it doesn't seem like we are as a team, but we are. We're trying to figure it out, and I think that's what makes it fun for us, right?" – Marcus Smart on the predicament the Lakers are in pic.twitter.com/rEabotWURC— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 11, 2026

JJ Redick on the defensive effort and what this group has pushed through this season:“I thought the whole game our defense was really physical, outside of a couple mishaps, I thought we talked pregame a lot about just being able to execute our coverages… I think our guys did a… pic.twitter.com/jYaGfNWDYK— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) April 11, 2026

Lebron James post partido: “Realmente extraño a mis muchachos (Luka y Austin). Ya estoy viejo para estas corridas, pero es bueno demostrarle a los haters que tengo combustible en el tanque”.Viejo querido, no te retires nunca 🥹 pic.twitter.com/pjT9yMF5HF— Bad Luka (@Lukarg77) April 11, 2026

DEANDRE AYTON TONIGHT 30 minutes 10 points 5 rebounds 4/8 FG +19 +/-WE NEED DOMINAYTON pic.twitter.com/RVeQWwoiZr— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) April 11, 2026

RUI HACHIMURA TONIGHT 31 minutes 13 points 3 assists 2/3 3PT +28 +/-I LOVE RUI ‍ pic.twitter.com/JhvnxQg6VU— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) April 11, 2026

Sorry to see him go, but he was at least given a chance. Here is hoping that the Lakers will fill his spot with a contributor.

Great news! But I am worried about the rust Marcus Smart is going deal with. At this point, any help would be welcome.

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

After an emotional, rocky week, the Lakers steadied the ship, beating the undermanned Golden State Warriors 119–103. It was a much-needed win that prevented their first four-game losing streak of the season. And with just two games left, it ensures this team will go the entire year without such a skid for the first time since 2011–12, another sign of their resilience.

Postgame, JJ Redick pointed to this as the game where the group found its spirit and path again. He admitted that he and the staff overlooked the emotional toll of that dreadful night in Oklahoma City, when the team lost both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to injuries. Redick also took accountability, saying that trying to inject emotion and fire up the group in the rematch against OKC was not the right call.

Still, as much as this win was needed to prevent the team from spiraling further, listening to both Redick and LeBron James postgame made one thing clear: accepting the current situation will take time. That chemistry, the winning formula they had been searching for all year and finally found in March, was taken away so abruptly… and whether they want it or not, it lingers in the back of their minds.

The Lakers won’t have much time for second thoughts. They face the Phoenix Suns tonight on the second night of a back-to-back, in a crucial game to hold on to the fourth spot and home-court advantage against a likely first-round opponent in the Rockets.

Today’s notes:

A turnover fest in a game without star creators

LeBron dominates in big vs small matchup (VIDEO)

Team responds to JJ (VIDEO)

The stabilizing presence of Luke Kennard (VIDEO)

Searching for nine: the missing two

1-A turnover fest in a game without star creators

It was a much-needed win for the Lakers, but it wasn’t pretty. Both teams, missing their top two scoring options, had to find new ways to generate offense with unusual lineups, leading to plenty of mistakes.

Turnovers came in waves on both ends. The Lakers struggled to start the second and close the third, while the Warriors had issues at the start of the third and fourth, adding up to a sloppy, high-turnover game for both sides. For the Lakers, four players had three or more turnovers, a downside of increased ball movement and less centralized handling with Dončić and Reaves out.

Source: Cleaning the Glass

However, the Lakers overcame their sloppiness with elite shotmaking, while the Warriors couldn’t. The Lakers shot 55% from three, with several players having big nights from deep: LeBron James went 3-of-5, LaRavia 4-of-5, Hachimura 2-of-4, Bronny James 2-of-4, and Nick Smith Jr. caught fire late, hitting 4 of his 5 threes in the fourth quarter.

2-LeBron dominates in big vs small matchup (VIDEO)

Both teams were undermanned, but in different ways. The Lakers were without their three best guards, while the Warriors missed Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and all of their centers, turning it into a big vs small matchup. Kerr leaned into small, guard-heavy lineups, while Redick countered with bigger units, often featuring two bigs next to LeBron.

The Lakers struggled to adjust to the Warriors’ speed early, getting killed on the offensive glass despite their size advantage. But Golden State couldn’t capitalize, going just 9-of-30 from three, and the Lakers eventually cleaned it up and took over.

LeBron James was a matchup problem for the much smaller Warriors all night, whether it was scoring on the block, overpowering everyone in transition, or finding teammates off the mismatches he created in the post. LeBron finished with 26 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block, clearly the best player on the floor on a night when all other stars were missing.

3-Team responds to JJ

I mentioned that Redick reflected on his overly emotional response after the last loss. There was a lot of discourse on whether that was the right approach, as calling out players publicly is always a sensitive topic. My take is simple: I’d rather see a coach who cares too much, who is overly obsessed with details, than the other way around. And as long as the team resolves it collectively, conflict can even be beneficial.

Deandre Ayton, one of the players in question after the last loss, responded with a strong bounce-back game, scoring 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Like LeBron, Ayton took full advantage of the Warriors’ lack of size and scrambling defense, with five of his nine makes coming inside against much smaller guards.

Lakers Nation
@LakersNation
JJ Redick on Deandre Ayton’s night:

“He played fantastic. The third quarter he was just dominant. A lot of that was very targeted because we were playing through the post and Draymond was going to overhelp and DA had his proper spacing. That touch shot for him at 8-10 feet, it’s
9:46 PM · Apr 9, 2026 · 7.95K Views
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Ayton has shown on several occasions this season that he can dominate smaller, less physical teams. Unfortunately, the Lakers won’t face many of those in the playoffs.

The other two players Redick called out, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt, both played extended minutes. Hachimura’s shotmaking was key as the Lakers were still trying to find their rhythm in the second quarter.

Vanderbilt played 26 minutes and helped stabilize things on the glass, but again showed why Redick has a hard time fully trusting him, with shaky decision-making leading to four turnovers.

4-The stabilizing presence of Luke Kennard (VIDEO)

Going back to decision-making. It’s the key to earning Redick’s trust. It’s why he has struggled at times with players like Ayton, Vanderbilt, and LaRavia this season, and Jaxson Hayes last year. On the other hand, it’s the same reason Luke Kennard is so entrenched and has carved out such an important role in the Lakers’ rotation.

Kennard delivered another rock-solid game as a secondary playmaker, with 14 points, 8 assists, and only one turnover.

Iztok Franko
@iztok_franko

Luke Kennard last 3 games for the Lakers: 13 points per game, along with 28 assists and only 4 turnovers

A stabilizing on ball presence, filling the ball-handling gap with Luka, Reaves and Smart OUT.

2:22 AM · Apr 10, 2026
Kennard arrived with a reputation as a knockdown shooter, but it’s his connective playmaking and decision-making on the ball that has stood out the most.

Source: Lakers Nation post on X

I think his lack of athleticism, which hurts the Lakers on defense and on the boards, makes his long-term fit more complicated than his successful short stint would suggest. But given the current situation and lack of other reliable decision-makers, you can’t blame Redick for leaning into Kennard so heavily.

5-Searching for nine: the missing two

After the previous game, Redick said he’ll use the final three games of the season to find nine guys who are all-in on fighting, no matter how shorthanded the Lakers are heading into the playoffs.

Based on what we’ve seen so far, we can suspect the count is currently at seven.

LeBron and Marcus Smart (the Lakers are hopeful he makes his return tonight against the Suns after missing nine straight games) are the two no-brainers. Kennard is very close to a lock as well. Hachimura is close too, either as a fill-in starter or a key scorer off the bench. Ayton is one, because the Lakers don’t have much choice but to hope he has more hits than misses. Hayes is a solid alternative if that happens, but the memory of last year’s playoffs, when he fell out of the rotation after the first real tests, will keep him a question mark until he proves otherwise. Jake LaRavia, who had a strong shooting night and another high-hustle game, is another player whose confidence will be tested in a higher-stakes postseason setting.

Any player beyond those seven is even more shaky, and hard to justify playing real minutes on a serious playoff team. Any team would be in trouble without its top two scorers, but especially the Lakers, who don’t have the same depth as some of the league’s best teams. And that’s another reason why the injuries suck. These playoffs were a chance to see which players could fit into the new long-term vision. Now, player evaluation becomes more difficult, as every player will be pushed up two spots in the hierarchy. But it’s also a chance for an unexpected hero to step up and surprise us, to shake off some of the conclusions we’ve built over the past 80 games.

Can LeBron James Carry Los Angeles Lakers Alone? 5 Factors That Will Decide Their Playoff Fate https://t.co/LrqP1Bfiog— LakerTom (@LakerTom) April 10, 2026

LeBron James full highlights vs. Golden State Warriors last night (119-103 W):26 Points on 11/17 FG (64.7%), 3/5 from 3, 1/2 FT, 8 Rebounds, 11 Assists (4 TOV), 2 Steals, 1 Block, 1 PF, and a +/- of +19 in 31:48 minutes played.Also assist to Bronny and from BronnyHe… pic.twitter.com/2Jq7TUeXpI— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 10, 2026

VITÓRIA DO LOS ANGELES LAKERS 119-103 CONTRA O WARRIORS.LeBron James liderou a partida em PTS e AST:26 PONTOS 8 REBOTES 11 ASSISTÊNCIAS 2 ROUBOS, 1 TOCO11/17 NOS ARREMESSOS 3/5 NAS BOLAS DE 3LAKERS VOLTA A VENCER 51-29 NA TEMPORADA, NOVAMENTE EM 4° NO OESTE pic.twitter.com/qf33mfTWcR— Matchup Brasil 🇧🇷🏀 (@MatchupBR) April 10, 2026

VITÓRIA DO LOS ANGELES LAKERS 119-103 CONTRA O WARRIORS.LeBron James liderou a partida em PTS e AST:26 PONTOS 8 REBOTES 11 ASSISTÊNCIAS 2 ROUBOS, 1 TOCO11/17 NOS ARREMESSOS 3/5 NAS BOLAS DE 3LAKERS VOLTA A VENCER 51-29 NA TEMPORADA, NOVAMENTE EM 4° NO OESTE pic.twitter.com/qf33mfTWcR— Matchup Brasil 🇧🇷🏀 (@MatchupBR) April 10, 2026

LeBron James triple-double’a göz kırptı, Lakers’ı galibiyete taşıdı 💪👑 26 sayı👑 8 ribaund👑 11 asist👑 2 top çalma👑 11/17 saha içi isabetiLos Angeles Lakers, deplasmanda Golden State Warriors'ı 119-103 mağlup etti. pic.twitter.com/mykW875wAO— NBA Türkiye (@NBATurkiye) April 10, 2026

With Steph Curry resting — and Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Gui Santos, Will Richard and Quinten Post out — and his longtime rival LeBron James back at Chase Center for perhaps the final time Thursday, the Warriors fell 119-103 to the Lakers. https://t.co/pPXs3mmhMg— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) April 10, 2026

Luke Kennard vs Warriors:14 PTS 8 AST 4 STL 2 REB 61.1 TS% pic.twitter.com/OWsRYefm9Q— Laker Performances (@LALPerformance) April 10, 2026

Jake Laravia vs Warriors: 16 PTS 7 REB 4 AST 3 STL 1 BLK 6/7 FG 4/5 3PT pic.twitter.com/h62GwC7mEH— Laker Performances (@LALPerformance) April 10, 2026

Deandre Ayton vs Warriors:21PTS-5REB-1AST-1BLK-9/11-3/4FT pic.twitter.com/jWbhAwvyCL— Laker Performances (@LALPerformance) April 10, 2026

Jake led the team with a +29. 3 steals and leads the team in deflections. Asked JJ about his performance against GS: "I think he along with Smart has been our most consistent defender for the last 3-4 months….He's the most consistent crasher we have at the wing position. He's… pic.twitter.com/ywhdJtcRbD— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) April 10, 2026

DA went 9-11 last night. He's having his most efficient FG% of his career. Asked him what led to it:"Running the floor, rolling hard, setting good screens and punishing mismatches. Just trying my best to stay around the rim 8 to 10 feet where it’s comfortable for me at. That’s… pic.twitter.com/7TbP7Q5L77— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) April 10, 2026