The Los Angeles Lakers crushed the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-113 behind a 42-point double-double from Luka Doncic. The superstar will draw the headlines, but what Deandre Ayton did was just as important. He crashed the glass, finished easy buckets, and was a force in the paint against the Cavs two All-Star big men. It was one of Ayton’s best games of the season, and the Lakers are a legit threat to win it all with this version of the seven-footer.
Ayton finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block on Tuesday night. He made eight of his 13 field goal attempts as the Lakers outscored Cleveland by ten in his 28 minutes on the floor. His six offensive rebounds were massive, and it was even more impressive that Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen were nonfactors for the Cavaliers.
This was the Ayton fans wanted. His talent is unquestionable, but the big man is not always fully locked in. When he competes hard and accepts being a roll man that dominates the paint, the Lakers can defeat any team. A locked-in DA anchored the Suns to the NBA Finals in 2021. He has accepted his role during the Lakers' hot streak, and Tuesday’s game against a fellow title contender proved Los Angeles has reached a new level.
Deandre Ayton was dominant in his role against the Cavaliers
The Lakers don’t need DominAyton. Luka is leading the NBA in scoring and playing out of his mind. LA has LeBron James and Austin Reaves to run the offense when number 77 needs a break. They need role players around their three stars. Men hungry to do their job and help the wins pile up. That includes Ayton.
Fans have seen the big man buy in and reward the Lakers' investment. He is not looking for post-ups or sulking when passes don’t come his way. Ayton is doing the dirty work and watching the Lakers thrive. The franchise has won four straight and 16 of their last 18 to climb to third in the Western Conference. They look like a legit title threat, and the 27-year-old big man has played a crucial role in the team’s transformation.
Fans want to see Luka dropping 40 and LeBron dunking in transition. Ayton’s name would not appear on the marquee. He is the warm-up band before the headliner takes the stage.
Tuesday’s win over a fellow title contender proved DA can put up massive numbers in this role. Ayton must clean the glass, roll to the rim, and make plays defensively. That is what the Lakers need and his path to producing.
The Lakers were written off midway through the season. Experts declared LA didn’t have enough talent, and it was time to move on from Ayton. Fans seemingly forgot that the purple and gold have Luka Doncic. Number 77 led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024 and always gets the best out of his teammates. He is doing it with Ayton right now.
The Los Angeles Lakers just saw the version of Deandre Ayton needed to win a championship. He was eager to do the little things that help a contender defeat the NBA’s best. Fans have been dreaming of this Ayton. Hopefully, he sticks around because that makes the Lakers a serious threat to raise another banner.