Lakers secure another clutch win, but LeBron demands 48 minutes of consistent play to avoid comebacks.
The Los Angeles Lakers improved to 27-17 on the season with a hard-fought 116-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night, and LeBron James made it clear that while the team knows how to finish games, they need to stop putting themselves in difficult situations to begin with.
"I mean, we know we one of the best clutch teams in the NBA... but we got to give ourselves an opportunity to just play more consistent basketball," James said following the win in Dallas.
Another Clutch Performance
The Lakers found themselves trailing by 15 points in the final seven minutes against the Mavericks before mounting yet another comeback.
Dallas went on a 35-12 run in the third quarter after Los Angeles held a 65-52 halftime lead, but the Lakers' star duo took over down the stretch.
LeBron James finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one block, and one steal, while Luka Dončić led the way with 33 points and 11 assists in his return to Dallas.
The Lakers have relied heavily on the chemistry between James and Dončić in crunch time, and that connection continues to strengthen as the season progresses.
The win marked another close game that Los Angeles managed to pull out, continuing their incredible run in clutch situations this season.
The Lakers entered 2026 with an undefeated clutch record and remain one of the league's best teams when games come down to the final five minutes with the score within five points.
The Consistency Problem
Despite their impressive clutch record, James and the Lakers know that relying on late-game heroics is not a sustainable path to a championship.
Head coach JJ Redick has been vocal about the team's defensive issues, and the Lakers rank 24th in defensive rating and 26th in three-point percentage, two areas that need significant improvement to be considered true title contenders.
What Moves Need to Be Made
The Lakers are reportedly looking to add a two-way wing with size ahead of the February 5 trade deadline, though their options are limited due to salary cap restrictions.
Players like Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III from New Orleans have been mentioned as potential targets, but the Pelicans have been resistant to dealing either player.
James' message was that the Lakers need to find a way to play more consistently for 48 minutes rather than constantly digging themselves out of holes.
With Dončić averaging 33.6 points per game and James contributing 22.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.9 assists at age 41, the talent is there to compete with anyone, but the supporting cast must step up if the Lakers want to make a deep playoff run.