SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 25 : Auston Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after sinking a shot against the Utah Jazz during the second half of their game at the Delta Center on October 25, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images Jacob Rude Mon, October 26, 2026 at 4:07 AM UTC · 6 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of Sunday being a tale of two halves, the Lakers' win over the Jazz felt more like a tale of four quarters. Or, more specifically, one quarter vs. three quarters.
The first quarter is going to rank up there with one of the worst LA plays this season. The Jazz shot unsustainably well, as we would see, they also were just outworking the Lakers, too.
They had a staggering 24-4 advantage in points in the paint. They had 16 second-chance points on six offensive rebounds. Everything they did seemed to work.
The benefit of having a superstar, though, is that they can paper over your shortcomings on any given night. And from the second quarter on, it was Luka Dončić's world with Austin Reaves playing an overqualified Robin.
They still struggled rebounding. They still lost the battle in the paint. But they hit 11 more threes and six more free throws over the final three frames to overcome that.
The end result was a gritty win that leaves the team with much to work on, but they get to do it in higher spirits.
So, let's dive into the win . As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A "B" grade represents the average performance for that player.
25 minutes, 11 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block, 1 foul, 4-8 FG, 3-7 3PT, +12
As uncertain as I remain about the long-term viability of starting both Thybulle and Williams, if they're going to play and shoot like this, then it's hard to also argue for going away from it. They offer the Lakers the chance to cross match on defense, which can also lead to confusion on the other end as well.
30 minutes, 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 fouls, 3-9 FG, 3-7 3PT, 2-2 FT, +11
There are still a few too many times when he goes to the rim without much of an idea of what to do and hopes his athleticism can bail him out. But he's shooting the ball well and is an active defender. He really seems to have solidified his spot in this lineup.
28 minutes, 2 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block, 4 fouls, 1 turnover, 1-2 FG, +2
After the game, he admitted that he let his emotions get the best of him and it impacted his play. It showed, because he was a relative non-factor in this one. Considering the circumstances, and the way he played in the first two games, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
35 minutes, 29 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 5 fouls, 3 turnovers, +14
Reaves will be a bit of an unsung hero in this one for about 52 reasons, but his second quarter was as important as any stretch of this game. He had 15 points on 4-5 shooting from the field while making all four of his free throws and pulled the Lakers back into the game.
38 minutes, 52 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, 17-30 FG, 8-18 3PT, 10-11 FT, +3
Fresh off one of his worst games as a Laker, he has one of his best. He pretty much epitomized the Lakers overall in this game. He started the game 3-8 from the field and 0-5 from three, meaning he hit 14 of his final 22 shots and eight of his final 13 threes.
20 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, -8
After a couple of strong games to open the season, Grimes wasn't as productive on Sunday. The benefit of having a deep team is that they don't need to rely on him if he's struggling.
20 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2-4 FG, 1-2 3PT, 4-6 FT, -3
The Lakers have gone to lineups fairly often with Mamu at the five with Looney really struggling. It's not his best option against most opponents, but it seems they're going to have to make do. It was nice to see him get to the line for six free throws.
20 minutes, 13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, 5-11 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, +1
Considering it's his second time suiting up at all this season, an unexpectedly strong game from Sexton. He showed his value as a release valve and dribble-drive threat alongside Luka and Reaves. He's still shaking off the rust, but this was more than a glimpse at his value.
15 minutes, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 fouls, 1 block, 0-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, +14
This was a game where the scoreline doesn't do justice to LaRavia's impact. Once he came on in the second period, he really helped change the tide of the game. Even without scoring, he was an impactful player, evidenced by tying for a team high in plus-minus.
I don't imagine there's going to be much different about this section for the vast majority of games this season. It's very evident he's past his prime and can no longer be impactful.
Challenging his way into an early foul for Walker Kessler was suboptimal, but you can understand why he did it. It did leave the Lakers in a tough spot the rest of the game, but it was nice to see none of the players able to make the circular, challenging motion with their finger most of the game.
Sunday's inactives: Cameron Carr, AK Okerek, Adou Thiero
Sunday's DNPs : Jaden Hardy, Bronny James, Arthur Kaluma, Chris Mañon, Jarred Vanderbilt
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social .
Source: Sports
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