Austin Reaves nearly left the Lakers’ 131-125 win over the Toronto Raptors on a bizarre note when he handed his signature headband to a fan, thinking the game was sealed. With a 125-109 lead and 1:43 left, bench coach JJ Redick pulled the reserves, and the Raptors surged, cutting the margin to six in under a minute thanks to Jamison Battle’s threes and an and‑one by Jaden Bradley. Reaves had to retrieve his headband before re‑entering with Luka Doncic and Walker Kessler. The Lakers survived the scare, improving to 5‑2, while Doncic posted 45 points, 15 rebounds and six assists.
The Miami Heat, fresh off two consecutive wins after an 0-4 season start, launch their five‑game West Coast swing against a Luka Doncic‑led Dallas Mavericks and the 5‑2 Los Angeles Lakers. The preview highlights Doncic’s early‑season dominance, the Lakers’ strong record, and Miami’s quest for a third straight victory on the road.
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of a handful of teams interested in potentially acquiring Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones from the New Orleans Pelicans, per Clutch Points' Chris Dodson.
The Lakers edge the Raptors 131-125 after Toronto erased a 15‑point fourth‑quarter lead, outscoring L.A. 43‑25 in the final period. With 43.7 seconds left and the lead down to five, JJ Redick yanks his starters back, then lashes out at his bench for the near‑collapse and criticizes the referees for questionable calls that led to 24 Lakers turnovers. Redick vows to keep his starters in late‑game situations and calls out defensive fouls as a league‑wide issue.
On his latest podcast, Bill Simmons reaffirms reports that the Los Angeles Lakers’ proposed $12.5 billion sale to tech investor Josh Kushner remains unfinished. Simmons says Kushner still needs $5‑6 billion to close the deal and that former Disney CEO Bob Iger is contributing only a minimal $63 million, not the larger sums rumored. Citing multiple sources, the host believes the ownership group will eventually secure the funds but hasn’t yet paid Mark Walter. The claim adds fresh doubt to what would be the NBA’s biggest franchise transaction.
Giannis Antetokounmpo can send an MVP message as the Miami Heat prepares for a big matchup against Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lakers coach JJ Redick blasted the officiating after Los Angeles’ 131‑125 win over Toronto, claiming uncalled fouls cost his team. Despite the Raptors committing 26 fouls, Redick said many of the Lakers’ 24 turnovers stemmed from illegal contact that went unchecked, including a tactic where defenders grab a non‑dribbling arm to steal the ball—a move he cited from Cason Wallace on TJ McConnell. He confronted a referee about the “perpetual hacking” and stressed that while some turnovers were self‑inflicted, the missed calls disrupted the game’s flow.
ESPN analyst and former NBA star Kendrick Perkins questions Luka Doncic’s MVP odds, saying the Dallas Mavericks’ path is blocked by the Los Angeles Lakers’ dominance, which he believes will keep the Mavericks from climbing high enough in the Western Conference standings to secure the award.
Yaxel Lendeborg shook off his Lakers struggles with a career-high 37 points to lead the Golden State Warriors past the L.A. Clippers.
After Sunday night's 131-125 win over the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick couldn't help but revel in star guard Luka Doncic's latest history-making performance.
Luka Doncic answered criticism of his defense after a 45‑point, 131‑125 win over the Toronto Raptors, highlighting five steals, three charges and 15 defensive rebounds. While conceding he’s not the league’s top defender, he claims a step‑forward this season, a view echoed by Lakers coach JJ Redick, who praised Doncic’s on‑ball containment, communication and leadership. The article notes his size and basketball IQ help offset limited lateral quickness, but sustained effort remains key. Doncic’s defensive hustle ignited the team, and Redick believes his continued focus could solidify the Lakers’ overall play.
The Los Angeles Lakers signed Collin Sexton to a two-year deal in free agency, and his importance keeps growing.
Luka Doncic drops a season‑high 45 points, 15 rebounds and five steals in the Lakers' win over Toronto, but his defensive hustle sparks the biggest locker‑room talk. Doncic says his game‑changing focus on drawing charges and taking hits is a leadership move, a sentiment echoed by coach JJ Redick. Redick also criticizes his bench for failing to protect a lead, recalling a late 11‑2 Toronto run that forced him to re‑insert Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler and Matisse Thybulle for the final 44 seconds. Meanwhile, rookie Cameron Carr makes a brief debut after an oblique strain, Lawson Lovering signs a two‑way deal, and AK Okereke returns to the G‑League squad.
Luka Doncic seemed to be getting worried about the Lakers blowing another big lead.
Raptors bring the solar storm, Lakers bring the supernova
Jeanie Buss accuses her five siblings of a covert campaign to force the sale of the Buss Family Trust’s 17.8% Lakers stake, filing court papers that allege private votes and media leaks were used to pressure her. The siblings voted 5‑0 to sell their shares under go‑along rights tied to Mark Walter’s proposed $12.5 billion deal with Josh Kushner’s group, while Jeanie abstained and claims the move violates a 2017 court order protecting her governor role. With each sibling poised to net roughly $371 million, a Dec. 8 hearing will decide whether the trust can be sold and if Jeanie remains a Lakers governor.
JJ Redick says the bench unit has to be ready to play, and everyone has to be ready to shoot.
Lakers coach JJ Redick reveals his personal list of the NBA’s five greatest shooters, ranking Stephen Curry as his top choice. Redick highlights shot difficulty and three‑point volume as key criteria, offering insight into the elite marksmen shaping modern basketball.
The Lakers fend off a late Raptors rally to win 131-125 after nearly blowing a 16‑point lead. Luka Doncic dazzles with a historic line—45 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, five steals and eight threes, the first ever to hit that stat combo. Coach JJ Redick’s decision to rest starters backfired when Toronto’s reserves, led by Jamison Battle, cut the margin to six, forcing Reuben to retrieve his headband from a fan and re‑enter the game. A timeout brings back Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler, whose dunk and key rebound seal the win. Redick vows never to pull starters early again.
Luka Doncic silences critics after posting a historic defensive line in the Lakers' 131-125 win over the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 2, 2026. The Slovenian logged 45 points, 15 rebounds, five steals and drew three offensive fouls— the first player to record both feats in a single game since tracking began in 2013‑14. Lakers coach JJ Redick and teammate Walker Kessler praised the "awesome" effort, while Doncic quipped about finally getting recognition. Through six games he averages 1.83 steals and 7.83 defensive rebounds, signaling a noticeable step up in his two‑way game.
Luka Doncic makes history for the Los Angeles Lakers with a stat line no NBA player has ever produced in a single game.
Mike D’Antoni reveals he took the Lakers’ head‑coaching job in 2012 after being promised that veteran point guard Steve Nash would fully recover from his injury. D’Antoni says the franchise misjudged Nash’s health, as the former MVP never regained his pre‑injury form before retiring. The insight sheds light on the Lakers’ decisions during that era.
The Lakers need to find a way to stay afloat when Luka Doncic is off the court.
The Lakers narrowly escaped a collapse against the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 2, 2026, winning 131-125 after a frantic 43‑second stretch that saw two turnovers each by Bronny James and Quentin Grimes. Coach JJ Redick, frustrated by the reserve unit’s mishandling of a full‑court trap, pulled his starters back in with a five‑point lead. The late‑game drama sparked a wave of online backlash targeting Bronny, whose limited minutes drew harsh criticism on X, Reddit and Instagram. The incident follows a similar near‑blowout loss to the Warriors just two days earlier, raising questions about the Lakers’ depth and guard rotation.
Former NBA champion Channing Frye tells the Road Trippin’ podcast that he loves Luka Doncic but doubts his solo‑play style can deliver a title, likening him to James Harden. Frye argues both stars' high usage rates haven’t translated into championships and stresses the pressure on Doncic to feed a whole team, not just Austin Reaves. He suggests the Mavericks need additional offensive creators to complement Doncic’s brilliance if they hope to win the Finals.