Lakers Player Ratings vs. Magic: Doncic’s 37 Points Fall Short in Another Defeat

The Los Angeles Lakers’ struggles continued Monday night as they were defeated 118-106 by the Orlando Magic, marking their third straight loss and seventh in their last 10 games. Despite standout performances from Luka Dončić (32 points) and LeBron James (24 points and eight assists), the Lakers were unable to maintain their early momentum, letting a nine-point lead slip away before halftime. Their defensive lapses in the second half proved costly as they were outscored 34-18 in the third quarter, eventually falling behind by double digits.

Austin Reaves contributed with 17 points, scoring eight of them in the first quarter, but Orlando’s late push, highlighted by Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero’s combined 10 points, secured the win. Though the Lakers tried to rally late, bringing the game within seven with 5:40 left, Orlando held firm and sealed the victory.

With this loss, the Lakers (43-28) slipped into a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference, as their four-game road trip got off to a frustrating start. Here’s a look at how each Laker performed in the defeat:

Luka Dončić: A
Stats: 32 PTS, 7 REB (0 OREB, 7 DREB), 7 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PF, 9-23 FG, 4-10 3PT, 10-11 FT, -9, 38 MIN

Dončić did everything he could to keep the Lakers competitive, posting a team-high 32 points along with seven rebounds and seven assists. His aggressiveness at the rim earned him 11 free-throw attempts, where he converted 10. However, his shooting efficiency was below par, making only 9 of 23 attempts from the field and struggling from deep (4-for-10). Despite his best efforts, the Lakers’ defensive issues in the second half kept them from keeping pace with Orlando.

LeBron James: A
Stats: 24 PTS, 6 REB (3 OREB, 3 DREB), 7 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 9-18 FG, 0-3 3PT, 6-7 FT, -17, 38 MIN

James was solid offensively, scoring 24 points on 9-for-18 shooting while contributing seven assists. His ability to attack the basket was critical for the Lakers, though he struggled from beyond the arc (0-for-3). His -17 plus/minus reflected the team’s inability to sustain momentum, especially during Orlando’s dominant third quarter.

Dorian Finney-Smith: B
Stats: 14 PTS, 7 REB (3 OREB, 4 DREB), 0 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 5-7 FG, 4-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, -6, 35 MIN

Finney-Smith provided some floor spacing for the Lakers, hitting 4-of-6 from three-point range. His seven rebounds, including three offensive boards, were valuable, though he wasn’t able to slow down Orlando’s wings when it mattered most. His defensive impact was noticeable with two steals, but his overall performance couldn’t prevent Orlando’s late surge.

Austin Reaves: B
Stats: 18 PTS, 6 REB (0 OREB, 6 DREB), 4 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 4 PF, 7-16 FG, 1-6 3PT, 3-4 FT, -7, 36 MIN

Reaves started strong, scoring eight of his 18 points in the first quarter, but struggled to maintain that level of play throughout the game. His 7-for-16 shooting was solid, but his struggles from three-point range (1-for-6) hurt the offense. He also had four assists but committed three turnovers, which proved costly in a game where the Lakers needed more stability.

Jaxson Hayes: C
Stats: 4 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 5 PF, 2-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -10, 18 MIN

Hayes played a limited role but was somewhat efficient, scoring four points on 2-of-4 shooting. However, his five fouls in just 18 minutes hindered his ability to stay on the floor. The Lakers needed more from him on both ends of the court, but he couldn’t slow down Orlando’s interior play.

Rui Hachimura: D
Stats: 5 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 2-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, -1, 24 MIN

Hachimura struggled offensively, finishing with just five points on 2-for-4 shooting. His inability to make an impact from three-point range (0-for-2) limited his effectiveness, and his three rebounds were insufficient to counter Orlando’s size advantage. His defense also left much to be desired, as he couldn’t contain Banchero and Wagner during crucial moments.

Jarred Vanderbilt: D
Stats: 1 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, -2, 12 MIN

Vanderbilt had a quiet night, contributing just one point and four rebounds in 12 minutes. His expected defensive impact was nowhere to be found, and his lack of shooting attempts limited his offensive contribution. The Lakers needed more from him, especially given Orlando’s strong offensive play.

Gabe Vincent: D
Stats: 4 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 2-6 FG, 0-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, -2, 20 MIN

Vincent struggled once again, going 2-for-6 from the field and missing all four of his three-point attempts. He added two steals but failed to contribute significantly in any other aspect of the game. His inability to create offense or make shots left the Lakers’ backcourt at a disadvantage.

Jordan Goodwin: D
Stats: 1 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, 13 MIN

Goodwin’s performance was largely uneventful, as he scored just one point and grabbed one rebound in 13 minutes. Without attempting a field goal, his limited involvement made it difficult for the Lakers to make much progress during his time on the court.

Dalton Knecht: N/A

Stats: 3 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 1-1 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -6, 5 MIN

Knecht played just five minutes but managed to knock down a three-pointer. Though his contributions were limited, the Lakers’ struggles made it difficult to assess if he could have had a larger impact with more playing time.

Trey Jemison III: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 1 MIN

Jemison’s time on the court was brief, playing only one minute and not registering any statistics. His appearance was limited to garbage time, offering no significant contribution.

The Lakers’ loss to Orlando highlights a recurring issue for the team—maintaining consistency. Despite strong individual performances from Dončić and James, their defense faltered in the second half, and their role players struggled to provide enough support. The Lakers now find themselves tied for fourth place in the Western Conference, facing an uphill battle as their road trip continues. If they hope to regain their momentum, they’ll need better execution, especially on defense, and more from their supporting cast in the games ahead.