Luka Dončić and LeBron James power late Lakers surge to outlast Grizzlies, 128–121

A vintage closing act: Dončić and James both top 30 as the Lakers stay perfect in clutch-time games.

The Los Angeles Lakers needed a spark to stop their recent slide. They got two. Luka Dončić and LeBron James delivered a dual headliner Friday night at Crypto.com Arena, combining for 65 points and a decisive fourth-quarter push that sealed a 128–121 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

It was the first time since March that both stars cleared 30 in the same game, a timely reminder of their late-game dominance in a season that has zigzagged between encouraging highs and frustrating lows. The Lakers entered having dropped four of five, and even this one followed the familiar pattern—build a lead, let it slip, then scramble late. This time, they closed with clarity.

Dončić was relentless, carving up the Grizzlies with a steady diet of drives and trips to the line. He finished with 34 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, fueled by a 17-of-20 performance at the stripe. James added 31 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, pacing the offense and punctuating crucial possessions with shotmaking and composure in traffic. Together, they ensured the 15-point cushion the Lakers held earlier—erased by the end of the third—didn’t go to waste.

Role players had their fingerprints on the finish, too. Jake LaRavia turned in 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting, adding nine rebounds and strong defense. Marcus Smart contributed 13 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, and Jaxson Hayes brought energy off the bench with 12 points, including a thunderous late dunk. Jarred Vanderbilt and LaRavia knocked down momentum threes, the kind that swing the mood in the building and the math on the scoreboard.

“I think we have a lot of people that closed the game,” Dončić said. “LeBron took over today. Vando hit a big shot. Jake hit a big shot. Jaxson had a big dunk. So, it’s just everybody.”

The numbers back the belief. The Lakers improved to an NBA-best 11–0 when the score is within five points in the final five minutes, a mark built on defensive tightening and deliberate offense. After falling behind 110–109 in the fourth, they rattled off a 12–2 run and never looked back.

“It was just playing and playing in rhythm,” James said. “We’re trying to find ways that we can be productive. Luka did a great job getting to the free-throw line…and hit a big step-back three. I’m trying to be consistent and super efficient. We worked well off each other today and led the group.”

The closing sequence was textbook: patience, ball movement, timely threes, and controlled glass. James pointed to the sequence—Vanderbilt’s corner three, LaRavia’s contested wing three late in the clock, Hayes’ rim-run dunk—paired with stops and rebounds that allowed the Lakers to push the lead out. It’s the blend they’ve been chasing through the season’s ebbs and flows.

At 21–11, the Lakers will see Memphis again on Sunday night in the same building, with the chance to build continuity off a win that showcased both star power and supporting cast synergy. On a night that teetered, Dončić and James were the balance—and the finish.