LaRavia pointed to one thing that made the difference.
The Los Angeles Lakers came into Sunday night's matchup against the Sacramento Kings on a three-game losing streak and with plenty of questions about their identity as a team.
They left Crypto.com Arena with a 125-101 victory, and the team looked more cohesive for the first time in a while.
LaRavia Credits Defensive Effort and Togetherness
After the blowout win, LaRavia reflected on what helped the Lakers get back in the win column, and his message was simple.
"I felt like this game was a real together game," LaRavia said. "I felt like defensively, we all had each other's backs....regardless of the lineup that was out there tonight, everyone just gave effort."
It was a complete turnaround from the Christmas Day loss to Houston, where LaRavia himself had acknowledged there might be a "disconnect" among the group.
The team held a meeting on Saturday and had a rare Sunday morning shootaround, and those conversations seemed to pay off when it mattered most on the court.
LaRavia Delivers Solid Two-Way Performance
LaRavia backed up his words with his play as he finished with 11 points, two rebounds, four assists, and two steals in the victory.
The 24-year-old forward has been a steady presence for the Lakers this season, averaging 8.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while providing versatility on both ends of the floor.
Luka Dončić led the way with 34 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while LeBron James added 24 points on an efficient 11-of-13 shooting night.
Nick Smith Jr. also contributed 21 points off the bench as the Lakers improved to 20-10 on the season.
The Kings dropped to 8-24 with the loss as their struggles continued, and while that may have been the reason the Lakers won, they will take anything at this point.
Upcoming Schedule Will Test the Lakers' Resolve
The Lakers now have a favorable stretch ahead with four consecutive home games at Crypto.com Arena and they will need to build on Sunday's performance.
They host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday before welcoming the Memphis Grizzlies for back-to-back games on January 2nd and January 4th, and those matchups will give the team a chance to gain some momentum before heading back on the road.
With Austin Reaves sidelined for at least four weeks due to a calf injury suffered on Christmas Day, the Lakers will need players like LaRavia to continue stepping up and the team unity he spoke about will be put to the test.