The Los Angeles Lakers looked like a total mess when the first quarter ended on Sunday, staring down an 18-point crater at 47-29 against the Utah Jazz. But if you blinked, you missed their entire comeback, because by halftime, they had not just caught up, they blew past the Jazz to take a 74-71 lead. This wasn’t just any win, it was a gritty, come-from-behind road victory that pushed them to a perfect 3-0 start to the year.
From “Mess” to Masterclass: A Second Quarter Storm
Trailing by a staggering 18 points after the first quarter, it would have been easy for the Lakers to fold on the road. Instead, they hit the gas in the second, completely erasing that massive deficit and heading into the break up by three. The second half turned into a classic back-and-forth battle, the kind that keeps you glued to the screen, but when it mattered most, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves stepped up. They strung together a handful of crucial plays down the stretch, sealing a 132-123 victory for Los Angeles. Talk about a statement win to kick off the season.
Redick: Building Reference Points with “New Faces”
Head coach JJ Redick wasn’t even sweating it, or at least he says he wasn’t. The new Lakers coach straight up told reporters that a game like this, especially so early in the season, is pure gold for a team still gelling with a bunch of new rotation players. Redick stressed the importance of building “reference points” for a squad that “feels like a newer team” due to all the fresh faces. He noted that even if they hadn’t come back and won, the first-quarter adversity would have been a valuable lesson. “Because we ended up coming back and winning, now it becomes a positive reference point and it’s a reference point for resiliency, right?” he asked. It’s hard to argue with that. Redick also made it clear that “winning on the road is hard in the NBA,” especially against a Jazz team that consistently gives the Lakers trouble. He might not have been surprised by Utah’s offense, but he was definitely proud of his team’s “immediate response” after their second-quarter discussion, gutting out a win when it seemed impossible.
This 3-0 start isn’t just about the wins, it’s about how they’re getting them. That grit and resiliency Redick talked about? That’s the real win here. This Lakers team is building something, reference point by reference point, and it’s already looking tough to beat.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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