Ayton has high confidence in the Lakers despite their injuries.
The Los Angeles Lakers closed out the regular season with a 131-107 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night, and Deandre Ayton walked away from it feeling like this team is ready for what comes next.
Ayton posted 22 points and 10 rebounds in the blowout, recording a double-double that capped off a strong final stretch to the regular season.
After the game, the big man pointed to something bigger than the box score.
"All season we've been playing into the next-man-up mentality," Ayton said. "We've been fighting through adversity and I think we have a good plan for how we'll approach this in the playoffs."
Ayton Stepping Up Without Doncic and Reaves
That mentality has been put to the test over the last couple weeks.
Luka Doncic went down with a hamstring strain and Austin Reaves followed shortly after with an oblique injury, leaving the Lakers without their two leading scorers heading into the postseason.
Instead of folding, the team responded by winning their final three games of the regular season and finishing 53-29 as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Ayton has been a big reason why.
Over the past few games without both stars, the former No. 1 overall pick has looked comfortable carrying a bigger load on the offensive end while continuing to anchor things on the glass.
His season averages of 13.0 points and 8.4 rebounds on 66.5% shooting don't jump off the page, but the production has ticked up when the Lakers have needed it most, and that matters heading into a playoff series where he could be the most important player on the floor for Los Angeles.
The Center Matchup Favors Ayton Against Houston
The Lakers will host the Houston Rockets in the first round, with Game 1 set for Saturday.
Houston finished 52-30 and locked into the fifth seed after dropping their regular-season finale to Minnesota.
The Rockets are led by Alperen Sengun, who put together a strong year, averaging 20.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game.
Sengun is a talented offensive player, but the center matchup might actually tilt toward the Lakers.
Ayton is bigger, more physical, and has real playoff experience dating back to his run to the 2021 NBA Finals with Phoenix.
Sengun's postseason track record is limited, and his tendency to play at a slower pace could work against Houston if Ayton is able to control the paint and limit second-chance opportunities on the boards.
What It Means Going Forward
The Lakers have dealt with noise and injuries all year, and head coach JJ Redick has consistently pointed to his players' resilience as the reason they finished with home-court advantage in the first round.
Ayton's comments after Sunday's win reflected that same energy.
They have been preparing for moments like this all season, and Ayton sounds like he believes they are ready to prove it when the lights get brighter.