Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised his team’s mentality after a 123-115 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday at Moda Center.
“I would just say our our mentality. You can’t win in the NBA without stepping on the floor and expecting to win. And I thought our guys had that from the start,” Redick said, highlighting the confidence and connectivity displayed by his players.
Deandre Ayton led Los Angeles with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks, while Rui Hachimura added 28 points. Nick Smith Jr. scored 25, including two crucial 3-pointers down the stretch.
Redick singled out Smith for his performance, noting, “Nick Smith in the second half he just took the game over and we needed his handle and we needed his wiggle tonight and it was a truthfully a perfect game for him.”
Despite missing LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers displayed cohesion. Redick credited the team’s player-led approach, saying, “The best teams are always going to be player-led. And so those guys holding each other to that… they’re really valuable.”
The Lakers overcame a first-half deficit, trailing Portland 55-52 at halftime after a dunk from Jerami Grant. Hachimura’s layup tied the game at 66-all, and Marcus Smart’s basket helped Los Angeles take the lead during a 10-1 run in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Portland briefly regained the lead at 97-96, but Ayton’s basket pushed the Lakers ahead 107-100, keeping the Trail Blazers at bay. Portland struggled from beyond the arc, making just nine of 40 three-point attempts. Deni Avdija scored 33 points, but the Blazers’ three-game winning streak ended.
Redick emphasized the importance of offensive adaptability, saying, “All the bad shots were good shots for your group… how do we put the ball in the basket? How do we get a shot up?” He noted that players like Hachimura and Ayton provided scoring versatility that helped the team succeed.
The coach also praised the bench contribution, particularly from Bronny James and Smith, combining for 12 assists and three turnovers while logging significant minutes. “I have such empathy for a guy who’s put in a situation like that. And kind of has to deliver for us to have a chance to win a game. And he was awesome,” Redick said of Smith.
Los Angeles improved to 6-2 with their fourth consecutive victory and will host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Portland, now 4-3, faces the Oklahoma City Thunder at home.
