Luke Kennard Stuns Magic as Lakers Survive Wild Finish
FAST START, EARLY WARNING SIGNS
The Los Angeles Lakers came out exactly how you’d want on the road against the Magic, aggressive, physical, and in control.
Two monster dunks fueled a quick 6-0 start, and early on, the offense looked sharp and connected. But even during that stretch, there were warning signs. The Orlando Magic weren’t going away.
They matched shot-making possession for possession, and more importantly, started to dominate the glass. By the end of the first quarter, Orlando had already piled up eight offensive rebounds, a number that would loom large as the game unfolded.
MOMENTUM COMPLETELY FLIPS
What followed was a stretch that nearly cost the Lakers the game.
Orlando ripped off a 20-2 run, fueled by second-chance opportunities and a Lakers offense that completely stalled. A six-minute field goal drought in the second quarter allowed the Magic to seize control. At the same time, frustration began to build.
Questionable officiating became a factor, and instead of responding with energy, the Lakers let it affect their focus. The combination of missed calls, poor rebounding, and stagnant offense flipped what started as a promising night into an uphill battle.
Despite all of that, LA trailed just 65-62 at halftime, largely thanks to Luka Dončić, who poured in 24 first-half points to keep things afloat.
A GAME OF RUNS CONTINUES
The third quarter never found a rhythm.
Both teams struggled to generate consistent offense, trading empty possessions before the Lakers finally began to regain control.
Strong interior play, highlighted by key sequences from Deandre Ayton, helped LA briefly take the lead. But just as quickly as momentum swung, it disappeared again.
Orlando closed the quarter on a 17-4 run, flipping the game back in their favor and sending the Lakers into the fourth down 87-82.
To make matters worse, Dončić’s night took a turn, going just 1-of-9 in the third, and a double technical involving him and Goga Bitadze means he’ll now miss the next game.
EXECUTION BREAKS DOWN LATE
The fourth quarter was defined by chaos.
Both teams went through stretches where scoring felt nearly impossible, missing open looks and failing to capitalize on key possessions. Free throws continued to be an issue for the Lakers, leaving points on the board in a tight game.
Still, they found themselves within striking distance. Down two with five seconds left and Orlando in control, the game felt all but over.
DEFENSE CREATES LIFE
That’s when LeBron James stepped in. Reading the play perfectly, LeBron forced a turnover on Paolo Banchero, giving the Lakers one final chance.
Out of the timeout, head coach JJ Redick drew up a sideline play that got LeBron a clean look at the rim. He shot it through contact, or what should have been contact, but no foul was called, but the ball stayed with the Lakers.
Two seconds left. Baseline inbound. One last shot.
KENNARD CALLS GAME
Enter Luke Kennard. With everything on the line, Kennard got just enough space and drilled a game-winning three at the buzzer, silencing the Orlando crowd and completing one of the wildest finishes of the season.
Lakers win, 100-98.
THE BIG PICTURE
This wasn’t pretty.
The Lakers were outworked on the glass, struggled with consistency, and let external factors affect their play for long stretches. Orlando’s bench dominated early, outscoring LA’s by a wide margin in the first half, and the rebounding issues nearly buried them.
But this version of the Lakers continues to show something important: They can win games even when they don’t play well. Dončić carried early but faded late. The role players had mixed performances. And yet, between LeBron’s awareness and Kennard’s clutch shooting, they found a way.
Sometimes, that’s all that matters.
