ORLANDO, Fla. — Introducing Luke Kennard to the Lakers.
This midseason addition sank the decisive three-pointer in the Lakers’ thrilling 105-104 victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday, marking the team’s ninth consecutive win.
Kennard, currently the top three-point shooter in the NBA, was left unguarded on the wing following a baseline out-of-bounds play, sealing the Lakers’ remarkable comeback from a five-point deficit with just 50 seconds remaining.
His teammates quickly surrounded him to celebrate; Jaxson Hayes and LeBron James lifted him in jubilation as he exited to chants of “LUUUKE.” A jubilant cheer for “Let’s go Lakers” echoed through the tunnel towards the locker room.
“Joining a new team means forming new connections and understanding your role,” said Kennard. “They brought me here to shoot, and it feels great to see the team’s response.”
The Lakers (46-25) secured their longest winning streak since their 2019-20 championship season. They maintain an impressive 22-6 record in games decided by five points or less, leading the NBA in clutch situations.
Initially, it appeared the Lakers might miss their chance at a late-game rally, having gone one for ten from three-point range before Kennard’s shot. Luka Doncic finished the game with 33 points but missed a critical three-pointer that could have leveled the score with just over a minute remaining. Although Austin Reaves contributed 26 points, he missed a crucial open three-pointer right before the buzzer.
Reflecting on the tense moments, Reaves remarked that it felt like the Lakers could have faltered. Yet, for a team riding a successful late-season wave, James noted the outcome was “how it’s supposed to go,” as he contributed 12 points in his record-breaking 1,612th regular-season game, also creating a pivotal turnover that enabled the Lakers to seize their final chance.
