The Los Angeles Lakers needed more than another productive night from their stars to leave Utah undefeated. They needed to recover from a first quarter that immediately put them in trouble.

After allowing 47 points in the opening period, the Lakers rallied past the Jazz 132-123 on Sunday at Delta Center, improving to 3-0 behind Luka Dončić’s 52 points and Austin Reaves’ 29.

Coach JJ Redick’s postgame assessment focused on the response that made the comeback possible.

“We had to gut out a win. Just proud of the group for that,” Redick said.

L.A. trailed by as many as 18 points before recovering to win its first road game. Dončić finished with 10 assists and eight rebounds, providing the scoring and playmaking the Lakers needed while they worked to overcome their early defensive problems.

Reaves helped keep the game from slipping away, scoring 15 points in a 45-point second quarter that brought the Lakers back into contention before halftime.

His production gave Dončić another consistent scoring option during a game in which L.A. spent much of the night recovering from its opening mistakes. Together, the two guards accounted for 81 of the Lakers’ 132 points.

For Reaves, the willingness to accept whatever the game requires is an encouraging part of this group’s identity.

“That's the beautiful thing about our team is there's no egos; there's no anything, you just want to win basketball games,” Reaves said. “However that happens is the main thing.”

Sunday required the Lakers to lean heavily on their starting backcourt. That approach produced a victory, although the circumstances also showed how much work remains for a team still establishing its habits.

Giving up 47 points in a quarter left little room for offensive mistakes. The Lakers recovered with an explosive second period, but needing that kind of response places considerable pressure on their scorers.

Redick could appreciate the comeback while still having an opening quarter to address. Through three games, the Lakers have continued winning as those lessons develop.

The trip also brought a personal challenge for Walker Kessler, who faced his former team in Utah.

Kessler finished with two points, seven rebounds and a block, then acknowledged that the emotions surrounding the matchup affected his approach.

“Going into the game, I definitely let my emotions get the best of me,” Kessler said. “You got to learn in those moments and move on. I'm glad we got the win tonight.”

His comments added another perspective to a game that demanded adjustments from several Lakers. While Dončić and Reaves carried the scoring, Kessler left with an experience he can apply to future meetings with his former teammates.

The Lakers ultimately secured the result all three postgame speakers emphasized. Their unbeaten start survived a difficult opening quarter, an emotional return and a night that required their guards to produce at a high level.

The next step is making those wins less dependent on recovering from an early deficit.