Lakers win ugly in first game back home from road trip
The Lakers pushed their record to 48-26 in an ugly win on Friday night over the Nets, winning their eighth straight game at Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron James #23, Luka Doncic #77, and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers plead their case to referee JD Ralls during an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Friday March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif. LOS ANGELES — The energy of the Lakers' six-game road trip carried over in their return home. Before Los Angeles’ matchup against the Nets, coach JJ Redick said that the feeling of the first game back from a long road trip could feel like an extension of it.
And it was for the Lakers, beating the Nets late in the fourth in an ugly 116-99 win over Brooklyn on Friday for their eighth straight victory at Crypto. com Arena. Luka Dončić poured in another big scoring night, finishing with 41 points (eight rebounds) on 15 of 25 shooting, while Austin Reaves had 26 points in 40 minutes.
"Obviously we didn't play well for three quarters," Dončić said on the energy. James was the Lakers' third leading scorer with 14 points in 37 minutes while adding six rebounds and eight assists. WHERE THEY STAND The Lakers improved to 48-26 and still sit in the No.
3 spot in the Western Conference. With their win over Brooklyn, L. A.