Lakers player grades: Luke Kennard gives L.A. ninth straight win

Things have turned completely around for the Los Angeles Lakers over the last three weeks or so. After losing five of seven games in February, they won 11 of their next 12 and took an eight-game winning streak into Central Florida on Saturday for a matchup against the Orlando Magic . One of those five aforementioned losses came to the Magic after the Lakers blew a double-digit lead.

In Saturday's contest, Los Angeles got out to a 14-point first-quarter lead, but Orlando erased that lead and took one of its own in the second period thanks to its offensive rebounding and overall physicality. The rest of this game had almost as many twists and turns as a thrill ride at Walt Disney World, and that set the scene for a tumultuous finish. With 50 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, L.

A. was down 104-99 and was having trouble finding the basket, especially from the outside. Austin Reaves quickly drove the lane and scored on a layup to cut the deficit to three.

Desmond Bane missed for Orlando, and center Deandre Ayton was fouled with 5. 5 seconds left. He made his first free throw, and he tried to intentionally miss his second, but he airballed that attempt.