The Lakers lost to the Magic on Tuesday night, in part thanks to a poor decision by Luka Dončić to pass up an open, potentially game-tying three-point shot in the final seconds. There weren’t many positives to take away from the rough loss for Los Angeles but Deandre Ayton’s play definitely qualifies as one.
The offseason signee put up a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double and missed only three of his 11 shots from the floor. It was just the sort of game the Lakers were hoping for when they signed him. Ayton set physical screens, rolled hard into the paint, defended well and crashed the boards; the scoring output is just a bonus given the roster employs Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
