Overview
- The Lakers listed a clean injury report before Friday’s home game against the Clippers, with Luka Dončić medically cleared and Austin Reaves off his minutes restriction.
- Dončić, LeBron James and Reaves have shared the court in only about 10 games (roughly 152 minutes) this season, making Friday expected to be just their 11th together.
- Redick told players the rest of the regular season is a sprint, noting the schedule features no more than a day between games until the end of March.
- After ramping up zone usage over the past 14 games, Redick said the Lakers have been the No. 1 half-court defense when starting possessions in zone and have cut down transition chances; since Jan. 18 their defensive rating is 112.7.
- Los Angeles enters the stretch at 33–21 and fifth in the West, opening a three-game homestand against the Clippers before hosting the Celtics and Magic as they work to build continuity.