Hayes reveals the moment that confirmed the Lakers' camaraderie and fueled their victory over the Clippers.
The Los Angeles Lakers were looking to clinch their spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday night, and they did just that with a 135-118 victory over the rival Clippers.
While the scoreboard told one story, it was a heated fourth-quarter scuffle that showed what this Lakers team is really made of.
With DeAndre Ayton sidelined due to a knee contusion, Jaxson Hayes stepped into the starting lineup and made his presence felt on both ends of the floor.
Hayes finished the game with eight points, four rebounds, and three assists while shooting 75 percent from the field, but his biggest moment came when he stepped up for his teammate Luka Doncic.
Hayes Steps In to Protect Doncic
With 3:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, Clippers guard Kris Dunn shoved Doncic to the ground while battling for a rebound and then slammed the ball into his chest.
Hayes immediately rushed over and pushed Dunn away, which sparked a brief scuffle between both teams. Dunn was ejected after receiving two technical fouls, while Hayes was assessed just one and stayed in the game.
After the win, Hayes explained why he didn't hesitate to defend his teammate.
"I just didn't like the way he shoved Luka," Hayes said. "I feel a lot of camaraderie with this team. I feel like we're all very together and we're all really close. We all want to protect each other."
Doncic immediately offered to cover Hayes' fine for the technical foul, and Hayes confirmed that his star teammate had his back just like he had Doncic's.
"He definitely said he got me," Hayes said.
Lakers Roll to Fifth Straight Win
The win pushed the Lakers to 13-4 on the season and secured the top spot in West Group B of the NBA Cup, while the Clippers dropped to 5-13 and continued their struggles early in the 2025-26 campaign.
Doncic led the way with 43 points, nine rebounds, and 13 assists, continuing his early MVP-caliber season.
Austin Reaves added 31 points and nine rebounds, while LeBron James contributed 25 points with 16 of those coming in the second half.
Looking Ahead
The Lakers have now won five straight games and 11 of their last 13 as they continue building chemistry with their new-look roster.
For Hayes, filling in for Ayton has been an opportunity to show what he can bring to this team beyond just his scoring ability.
"We all know what this team can be. We're a very skilled and talented team, it's just part of the growing pains of the season," Hayes said.
The Lakers will look to keep their momentum going when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, a game that will see Doncic face his former team for the first time this season.