The grades for LeBron, Luka and Austin Reaves in the Lakers win rockets

If Saturday’s victory against the Grizzlies was the beauty, Monday’s victory over the Rockets was the beast.

There were few pretty on this victory. The Big Three Lakers fought and it was the players who had to intensify significantly. The team has also had one of its best defensive projections in recent weeks to close water for Houston.

In short, that was all you expect from an eliminatory match.

They approach the approach for Lakers and Monday’s performance reassured that this team can win ugly when it owes it absolutely.

So let’s dive into victory. As always, the notes are based on the expectations of each player. A note “B” represents the average performance of this player.

Rui Hachimura

31 minutes, 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 interceptions, 3-10 FG, 1-6 3pt, +0

It was not really a Rui game because he struggled powerfully offensively. I thought he had quite admirable on the defensive and found a big dunk on a flow of LeBron James late, but it was not his night.

Grade: C-

LeBron James

38 minutes, 16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 interceptions, 2 blocks, 5-12 FG, 2-4 3pt, 4-4 ft, +99

Not only was LeBron stinking quite offensively in this area, but it also seemed that he had not sometimes dribbled a basketball. He lost the ball trying to take Dillon Brooks to the basket to the fourth, then had a really expensive turnover in the last minute.

And yet, he proposed the great sustained RUI, hit two frank clutch throws and had a huge late block. It was not good enough to overcome evil, but he always made games too.

Grade: C +

Jaxson Hayes

14 minutes, 3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 decisive pass, 1-2 FG, 1-1 ft, -9

It is interesting to note that, undoubtedly the two biggest games of the regular season of the year in the last three days, Jaxson has played 31 minutes combined.

Is it a question of Redick preferring a small ball look? Given the performance of the offensive against Memphis and the looks they created against Memphis, it is difficult to argue.

Admittedly, I am not sure that he has a lot to offer against Zach Edey and Alpern şengün. But it’s always a surprise to see how little he presented it.

Grade: C +

Luka Dončić

38 minutes, 20 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 interceptions, 6-16 FG, 1-7 3pt, 7-9 ft, +7

Luka looks fairly clearly struck, so the rest of the two days will be useful for him. He did not fall for him, which puts part of the step back that he takes hard to swallow.

Again, however, he made the right game again and again, in particular by helping four of the six three actions of Pick-And-Pop of DFS.

Grade: B +

Austin Reaves

39 minutes, 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 interceptions, 5-11 FG, 0-3 3pt, 2-2 ft, +8

Among the three large of the Lakers, I would say that Austin had the worst match. His sweater was in disorder and he never had such a feeling offensively. But that did not prevent him from doing the dirty work defensively and of giving everything he had to ensure victory.

Grade: C-

Dorian Finney-Smith

32 minutes, 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 interceptions, 3 blocks, 6-13 FG, 6-11 3pt, 2-2 ft, +16

There is no additional argument that you need to make in it for DFS. He was simply huge in all directions on Monday. The Lakers spammed the same ball screen action with him and Luka to create an open look after the look for him and he made Houston pay.

Grade; A +

Jarred Vanderbilt

10 minutes, 2 points, 6 rebounds, 1-6 FG, -4

Offensively, it is always a pain while watching Vando try to finish around the edge. And, in the end, if he cannot fulfill this role in the playoffs, it will be difficult to keep it on the ground. It is not surprising that he barely played 10 minutes in it after having so much badly offensively with the size of the Rockets.

Grade: C-

Gabe Vincent

24 minutes, 20 points, 4 rebounds, 1 decisive pass, 1 flight, 1 block, 6-14 FG, 6-13 3pt, 2-2 ft, +8

While DFS photos came from specific actions, Vincent did his job by being a threat of spot on the weak side most of the time. It is encouraging that in two very big games – on Monday and against the Knicks earlier in the season – he intervened with great performances.

It is sure to say that fans will feel comfortable to see Vincent get minutes of critical qualifying series.

Grade: A +

Jordan Goodwin

12 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 decisive pass, 2-5 FG, 0-2 3pt, -4

It was a nice game Meh Goodwin before he even had a period of 10 seconds missing an open 3 point pointer, then fouling Fred Vanvleet on a 3 -point at the other end.

His energy game to tear the ball of a rocket player for a lay-up in the first half saved him a little.

Grade: D +

Dalton Knecht

Dalton has just had a visit to the second quarter. Honestly, it is with its defensive shortcomings, it is difficult to play it in big games. Giving him a passage to show if he offensively, that is all he will get, depending on the match, the time for the playoffs.

JJ Redick

There is a lot of advising in our live game thread on the quantity of Redick prefers the small ball lines. What I would say is that, because the Lakers can abandon the size, look at all the 3 open points that they created by being able to space the ground in Houston. This does not happen with Hayes on the ground.

Grade: B +

Monday DNPS: Bronny James, Trey Jemison III, Alex Len, Shake Milton, Markieff Morris

Monday inactive: Christian Koloko, Maxi Kleber

You can follow Jacob on Twitter in @Jacobrude or on Bluesky at @ jacobrude.bsky.social.