If there are any “hot” teams in the NBA right now, they are certainly in the Western Conference. One is the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder (20-1), who are currently on a 12-game winning streak and stand as one of only four teams in NBA history to have just one loss through 21 games. The other is the Los Angeles Lakers (15-4), who are riding a remarkable seven-game winning streak and enjoying the franchise’s best start to a season since their 2019-20 “Bubble” championship season (16-4). Should the Lakers win their next game against the Phoenix Suns, they would tie the franchise’s second-best start in history, trailing only the 2008-09 championship team (17-3) led by Kobe Bryant.
Doncic and Reaves Achieve 50-Year NBA Feat
In the Lakers’ 133-121 victory over the Pelicans, an extremely rare NBA milestone occurred, something seen only three times before in the last 50 years. Forty-year-old LeBron James was given the night off as the Lakers faced the second night of a back-to-back, but his presence was not missed.
Luka Doncic dropped a game-high 34 points, and Austin Reaves poured in 33 points, making them only the fourth duo in the last 50 years to each record 30+ points in three consecutive games. They join an elite list that includes the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard (2023), the Warriors’ Monta Ellis and Corey Maggette (2010), and the Spurs’ George Gervin and Mike Mitchell (1984).
Reaves and Luka have been on fire all season, standing as the only duo to have both players ranked in the top 10 in points per game (PPG): Luka leads the league with 35.1 PPG, and Reaves is ninth with 28.8 PPG. The closest competitor is the Nuggets’ duo of Nikola Jokic (28.9 PPG) and Jamal Murray (24 PPG), a gap of more than 10 points. These statistics perfectly illustrate the defined roles within the Lakers. The duo’s success allows “the King” to rest, stay fresh, and remain physically 100% for when he is truly needed, a luxury he has not had in previous years.
Lakers Face East Coast Gauntlet
Lakers fans have every right to be excited about this tremendous start and the team’s strong performance. However, a critical look at their recent seven-game winning streak reveals that all opponents currently hold a losing record. This is not to diminish the victories, but the Jazz, Pelicans, Clippers, and Mavericks represent four of the five worst teams in the conference with a combined record of 20-61.
The true test begins this week as the Lakers head to the East Coast to play the Raptors, Celtics, and Sixers before returning home to host the NBA Cup quarter-final against the Spurs, who are expected to have a healthy Victor Wembanyama back in the lineup by then.
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