Watching the Lakers lately feels like riding a roller coaster that was built without a blueprint. One night you're convinced they’re championship locks; the next, you’re staring at the TV wondering how professional athletes can miss that many rotations. Honestly, the Los Angeles Lakers last 5 games have been a chaotic microcosm of their entire 2025-26 season. They’ve gone 2-3 in this stretch, and while that doesn’t sound like a total disaster, the way they lost some of those games has fans in L.A. checking the trade deadline calendar every ten minutes.
It’s been a weird mix of high-scoring explosions and defensive collapses. Basically, if you aren’t paying attention to the injury report, none of these box scores make any sense.
The Brutal Stretch: A Game-by-Game Reality Check
The Lakers' recent form has been anything but consistent. They finally snapped a three-game losing skid with a massive 141-116 win over the Atlanta Hawks on January 13, but the path to get there was ugly.
- Jan 13 vs. Hawks (W 141-116): This was the "get right" game. LeBron James looked like he’d found a fountain of youth in the locker room, dropping 31 points and 10 assists. Luka Dončić, playing through a thigh issue, still managed to steer the ship with 27 points. Even Jake LaRavia chipped in 17. It was a blowout that felt necessary for the team's mental health.
- Jan 12 @ Kings (L 112-124): This was the low point. Sacramento basically ran them off the floor. The Lakers’ defense looked like it was stuck in mud, and even though LeBron put up 22, the lack of depth was glaring.
- Jan 9 vs. Bucks (L 101-105): A heartbreaker. Without Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, the Lakers just didn’t have enough secondary scoring to help Luka. Giannis did Giannis things, and the Lakers couldn't close it out in the final three minutes.
- Jan 7 @ Spurs (L 91-107): Easily the most frustrating watch. The offense completely stalled. Scoring 91 points in 2026 is almost impressive for all the wrong reasons.
- Jan 6 @ Pelicans (W 111-103): A gritty road win where the defense actually showed up.
Why the Defense is Suddenly Leaking Points
If you look at the stats from the Los Angeles Lakers last 5 games, the defensive rating is what jumps out. They are currently 24th in the league defensively. That’s bad. JJ Redick has been vocal about the team's lack of "disruptive energy," but it’s hard to be disruptive when your best perimeter defender, Marcus Smart, and your glue guy, Austin Reaves, are missing time.
The absence of Austin Reaves (calf strain) has been massive. People sort of overlook his defensive communication, but without him, the Lakers have been blowing basic switches. In the Sacramento game, the Kings had wide-open layups like it was a pre-game warm-up.
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The Luka and LeBron Dynamic
There was so much talk about how Luka Dončić and LeBron James would coexist. In the win against Atlanta, we saw the vision. LeBron operated as a devastating finisher and secondary playmaker, while Luka controlled the tempo. But when the shots aren't falling—like in the Spurs game—the offense becomes very "your turn, my turn." It gets stagnant.
LeBron is 41. It’s wild that we still expect him to carry 35 minutes a night, but here we are. He’s averaging around 24 points a game this season, which is absurd, yet the Lakers still feel vulnerable the second he sits on the bench.
The Injury Bug is More Like a Plague
You can’t talk about the Los Angeles Lakers last 5 games without mentioning the training table. It’s crowded.
- Austin Reaves: Out with a Grade 2 calf strain. He’s not expected back until late January.
- Rui Hachimura: Finally returned against the Hawks but on a strict 18-minute limit. He’s the physical wing they desperately need.
- Adou Thiero: The rookie was providing great spark, but a right MCL sprain has him sidelined until February.
- Jaxson Hayes: Dealing with a hamstring issue that’s thinned out the frontcourt rotation behind Deandre Ayton.
When you're missing three or four rotation players, you start asking guys like Jake LaRavia and Max Christie to play roles they aren't quite ready for. LaRavia had a great game against Atlanta, but he struggled significantly in the losses to the Bucks and Kings.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Roster
The common narrative is that the Lakers are "top-heavy." While having LeBron and Luka certainly makes you top-heavy, the real issue is the lack of a consistent third-scoring option while Reaves is out. Marcus Smart was brought in to be the defensive heart, but he’s not going to give you 20 points.
When the Lakers are healthy, they are a top-5 team in the West. Their current record (24-14) still has them sitting in the 5th seed, which is respectable given the injuries. But the gap between them and the Oklahoma City Thunder (the current 1st seed) feels like a canyon right now.
Actionable Insights for the Road Ahead
If the Lakers want to climb back into the top 3 of the Western Conference, a few things have to change immediately. Based on the film from the Los Angeles Lakers last 5 games, here is the roadmap:
Fix the Transition Defense
The Lakers are giving up way too many easy buckets after missed shots. They need to stop hunting offensive rebounds and start getting back. Against the Kings, they were outscored 22-8 in fast-break points. That’s a recipe for a loss every single time.
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Wait for the Deadline (Carefully)
Rob Pelinka is reportedly active in trade talks. The name Jerami Grant keeps coming up. Adding a versatile, two-way wing would alleviate the pressure on LeBron to defend the opponent’s best player. However, they shouldn't panic-trade their 2029 first-rounder unless it’s a perfect fit.
Manage LeBron’s Minutes
With the schedule softening up a bit in late January, JJ Redick needs to find ways to keep LeBron under 30 minutes. The blowout win over Atlanta was perfect because it allowed the starters to rest the entire fourth quarter.
Integration of Rui Hachimura
As Rui gets his legs back under him, the Lakers need to move him back into the starting lineup. His ability to hit the corner three and defend bigger wings is the "secret sauce" that makes their small-ball lineups work.
The Lakers aren't broken, but they are bruised. The win against Atlanta showed what they look like when the engine is firing. Now, they just need to prove they can do it against the elite teams in the West without collapsing the moment a starter heads to the locker room.