The Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a 134-96 victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night, handing the league’s worst team its 16th straight loss.
LeBron James led the way with 24 points and 11 assists in just 26 minutes before sitting out the entire fourth quarter. Rui Hachimura added 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting against his former team.
Washington never recovered after a disastrous first half in which it allowed 78 points, the most it has conceded in any half this season. The Lakers took a commanding 42-29 lead after the first quarter and stretched it to 78-45 by halftime.
Anthony Davis missed the game due to an abdominal strain, but Los Angeles had no trouble controlling the paint. Jaxson Hayes stepped up with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while the Lakers outshot the Wizards 54.4% to 31.9% from the field.
Jordan Poole led Washington with 19 points but shot just 5-of-15 from the floor. Kyle Kuzma, facing his former team, finished with 13 points but struggled with efficiency, making just 3-of-14 attempts.
Los Angeles’ bench played a significant role in the blowout, contributing 54 points. Shake Milton was a standout performer with 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while Dalton Knecht added 10 points before being ejected in the final minutes after picking up two technical fouls.
The crowd, filled with Lakers fans, cheered loudly when Bronny James entered the game in the fourth quarter. The rookie played 12 minutes and scored a career-high five points, including a three-point play after drawing a foul on Tristan Vukcevic.
This win marks the Lakers’ most lopsided victory of the season, surpassing their previous 111-88 win over Washington just over a week ago. Los Angeles has now won five of its last six games, bouncing back from a tough loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.
The Wizards’ 16-game losing streak ties a franchise record, marking the second time this season they have reached that mark. With a 6-41 record, Washington remains in last place in the NBA standings.
The Lakers improved to 27-19 and sit fifth in the Western Conference. They will look to build on this momentum as they continue their road trip.
