The Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning streak to six games on Friday night, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 129–119 at Crypto.com Arena and moving to an impressive 14–4 record to open the 2025–26 season. While Luka Dončić delivered the biggest scoring performance of the night, much of the postgame attention centered on Deandre Ayton — and Dončić made sure to give his teammate major credit.
Speaking after the win, Dončić emphasized Ayton’s importance to the Lakers’ early-season success and praised his consistency on both ends of the floor.
“He’s been amazing for us the whole season,” Dončić said. “Sometimes I need to get him more looks. But the way he plays on both ends is amazing. I really appreciate him. When you talk to him, he feels secure. He’s been playing great — he’s helping us win every game.”
Ayton returned to the lineup after missing one game with a knee issue and was nearly flawless. In 36 minutes, he posted:
- 17 points
- 8 rebounds
- 2 assists
- 1 steal, 2 blocks
- 8-of-9 shooting
His presence defensively was especially noticeable, as he protected the rim, switched effectively and brought the level of activity the Lakers desperately lacked during last season’s playoff exit.
Earlier in the day, Ayton admitted he was surprised when asked about his defense — a topic that has followed him throughout his career. But his play in Los Angeles has silenced many of those critiques.
A former No. 1 overall pick in 2018, Ayton spent five seasons with the Suns, two with the Trail Blazers and joined the Lakers after a buyout this summer. The move has been a home run so far. Through 16 games, he is averaging:
- 15.6 points
- 8.4 rebounds
- 70.7% FG
- 29+ minutes per game
With Dončić orchestrating, LeBron James providing leadership, and Austin Reaves emerging as a scoring threat, Ayton’s reliability inside has become one of the Lakers’ biggest strengths.
If he continues at this level, the Lakers’ ceiling only gets higher.
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