WASHINGTON — Luka Doncic, and his historic performance in the nation’s capital, was the buzz coming of the Lakers’ season-best road win over the lowly Wizards on Friday night.
But starting big man Deandre Ayton provided the best glimpse in a while of what the Lakers need from him to have a shot against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Sunday night.
And isn’t just about Ayton’s statistical production.
His 28 point-13 rebound double-double to go with three assists and three blocked shots against the Wizards tells part of the story.
Friday was Ayton’s third 20-point double-double in his last 25 games after he had seven in his first 17 games of the season. His 14 field goal attempts marked the seventh time in that same 25-game stretch that he took at least 10 shots, compared to the 10 games he took at least 10 shots in his first 17 games. Friday was the third time in his last 12 games that Ayton, who had a game-best plus-30 individual plus/minus, had a positive plus/minus for a game.
But more importantly than the actual raw production itself is what the numbers underscore: Ayton was involved and engaged, which can go hand in hand.
For the last month, the Lakers have spoken about needing to get Ayton involved more offensively. And how the other areas of his game — defense, rebounding and focus — can wane if he isn’t feeling a part of the offense, which isn’t uncommon in the NBA, especially for big men dependent on their ball handlers to get them touches.
Yes, the Wizards’ atrocious defensive play, especially in transition, made it easier for the Lakers to get Ayton the ball.
But it was clear from the opening tip that the Lakers were emphasizing Ayton. And they benefited from his heightened level of engagement.
“Listen, it’s our job to feed him,” LeBron James said. “Feed the beast. He was very active. When he’s rebounding, it gives us an opportunity to get out and play fast. He’s been key for our wins for sure.”
The numbers back James up.
When Ayton takes at least 10 field goal attempts, the Lakers are 15-2 compared to 11-14 when he takes nine or fewer shots. They’re 21-6 when Ayton grabs at least eight rebounds, and 5-10 when he has fewer than seven boards.
Last season’s playoff run that ended in the first round after dropping four of five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves, in which then-starting center now backup big man Jaxson Hayes was benched, showed how important the center position is for the Lakers.
Doncic, James and Austin Reaves may be the reason why the Lakers have a shot to be a threat in the playoffs. But Ayton’s involvement and engagement will determine how much of a threat they can be.
“[He] definitely makes a big difference,” Doncic said of Ayton. “We just have to keep involving him.
While Ayton was great in Washington, Doncic’s showing against the Wizards shouldn’t be taken for granted.
His stats speak for themselves: a 37 point-13 assist-11 rebound triple-double in 31 minutes.
He had 26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the first half. It was the second time in the play-by-play era (1997-98) that a player recorded a 25+ point triple double in a half – with Doncic also being the first to do so in 2023 when with the Dallas Mavericks.
Doncic was aggressive. Efficient. Decisive, as coach JJ Redick put it.
The Lakers go as far as Doncic leads them.
“He’s beyond special,” LeBron James said of Doncic.
But for the Lakers to accomplish what they believed they could be capable of when they put this roster around Doncic, James and the soon-to-be-back Reaves together last summer, they’ll need Deandre Ayton to have more games like he did on Friday night.