The NBA is officially back in full swing. After a much-needed week of rest for most of the league, teams have finally welcomed back their slightly bruised and battered stars for the final sprint. With more than 40 days of non-stop basketball, we’re looking at over 25 games per team before the curtain drops on April 12.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, the All-Star break couldn’t have come at a better time. The purple and gold entered the restart with a clean bill of health, immediately proving their depth in a gritty 125-122 victory over their hallway rivals, the Clippers.
Bronny James Shines in High-Impact G League Assignment
With the main roster fully healthy, head coach JJ Redick is beginning to tighten the screws on his rotation. Role players who were getting experimental minutes earlier in the year are seeing their windows shrink, as Redick prioritizes specialists like new addition Luke Kennard for floor spacing and Jake LaRavia for defensive energy when the stars need a breather.
This shift means that promising youngsters like Drew Timme, Adou Thiero, and Bronny James will spend the majority of this final stretch with the South Bay Lakers. While every player wants to be on the big stage, the G League is offering them the one thing they need most: consistent minutes.
For Bronny James, the break seems to have served as a total reset. In a dominant 127-105 win over the Texas Legends, the second-year pro delivered perhaps his most complete performance of the season. While his shooting wasn’t exactly “lights out” (5-for-14 from the field), he found a way to impact every single facet of the game.
Bronny finished with 13 points, his highest mark of the season, but it was his five rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal that told the real story. He finished with a +9 in his 27 minutes on the floor and looked like a player who had completely shut out the outside noise.
He wasn’t alone in the blowout, either; Drew Timme continued his monster season with 25 points and 8 boards, while Adou Thiero was nearly perfect, dropping 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Bronny is expected to suit up again in Texas this Saturday night, likely remaining with South Bay to keep his rhythm sharp.
Lakers Look to Capitalize on Massive Home Stand
The logic behind keeping the youngers in the G League is simple: JJ Redick can’t afford to “try things out” with the standings this tight. As long as the Lakers avoid the injury bug, the heavy lifting will remain on the shoulders of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James.
This trio has already shown they can go toe-to-toe with any heavyweight in the Western Conference, but the next few weeks will decide if they get home-court advantage in the first round.
The schedule makers have been kind to Los Angeles for this final push. Starting this Sunday, February 21, with a massive rivalry showdown against the Boston Celtics, the Lakers will play 10 of their next 13 games at the Crypto.com Arena.
Currently sitting just one game behind the Denver Nuggets for the third spot in the West, this home-heavy stretch is their best chance to climb the ladder.