WHY JAKE LARAVIA IS THE LAKERS’ UNSUNG HERO OF THE 2026 SEASON
Jake LaRavia is active for the Lakers vs Bulls! Discover the latest on Austin Reaves' recovery and the Lakers' 2026 road trip.
JJ Redick, now the Lakers’ head coach, gathered his team during the first quarter against Portland at the Moda Centre on January 17, 2026. The Lakers are in the middle of their annual Grammy road trip, and they just got a timely boost: Jake LaRavia is good to go for Monday night’s game in Chicago.
LaRavia was questionable earlier in the day with a sore left quad, but he’s cleared. That gives the Lakers another steady hand as they try to push their road trip record to 3–1.
At 24, LaRavia has really come into his own. He’s playing bigger minutes, and he’s making them count. Just last game, he helped spark the Lakers’ comeback win in Dallas—13 points, six rebounds, and a couple of threes. He’s started 14 games in a row now, giving the Lakers a mix of perimeter defence, rebounding, and scoring that’s hard to find. The numbers back it up: 11 points, 5 rebounds, over 2 assists, and nearly 2 steals per start, shooting almost 47% from the field and a solid 35% from deep. He moves all over the floor, defends multiple positions, and spaces the offence. No wonder Redick keeps him in the rotation.
Actually, LaRavia’s the only Laker who’s played every game this year. That streak keeps rolling in Chicago.
This road trip matters for the Lakers, and lineup stability is the name of the game. LaRavia’s consistency has been huge, especially with the rest of the roster dealing with injuries. The team is just half a game behind Houston for the fourth spot in the West, and every win counts.
Redick can stick with his preferred rotation now, even with a tough stretch of back-to-backs coming up.
And there’s more help on the way. Austin Reaves could be back as soon as Wednesday in Cleveland. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said Redick plans to keep the current starting lineup—LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart—until Reaves returns.
Lakers sideline reporter Mike Trudell mentioned that Reaves has been making progress, with no setbacks so far. Redick said Reaves got through a “stay-ready” game, and they’re hoping for one more full-court run before he’s cleared.
Redick didn’t hold back about what the Lakers have missed with Reaves out. He talked about the “violence” Reaves brings—how he attacks defenders with IQ, angles, and brute force. “First with a knife, then with a sledgehammer,” is how Redick put it. Before the calf injury, Reaves was in the best stretch of his career: nearly 27 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds a game, shooting over 50% from the field.
Rui Hachimura can’t wait to have Reaves back, but he wants to make sure he doesn’t rush it. “Honestly, I forgot he was on the team for a bit—I think since Christmas?” Hachimura joked. “We’re happy he’s coming back, but he should take it slow. I had the same injury, and you have to be careful. But he was the biggest reason for our great start. He can do it all. We’re excited.”
With LaRavia active and Reaves nearly ready, the Lakers look close to full strength just as their road trip heats up.
LUKE LITTLER STAGES IMPROBABLE COMEBACK TO SECURE PREMIER LEAGUE DUBLIN TITLE
Luke Littler staged a miracle 0-5 comeback to defeat Gerwyn Price 6-5 and claim Premier League Night Seven in Dublin.
Luke Littler pulled off an incredible comeback to win Night Seven of the 2026 Premier League Darts in Dublin, edging out Gerwyn Price 6-5 in a gripping final at the 3Arena.
Starting the match down 5-0, Littler managed to turn things around, finishing with a sharp 81 checkout on double 15 to claim his second nightly win of the season. This victory strengthened his position in the hunt for a playoff spot. Price, the world champion, seemed to be heading for a comfortable win after dominating early on. However, a string of missed match darts allowed Littler to complete this remarkable turnaround, much to the delight of the lively Dublin crowd.
Littler and Price both earned their places in the final with strong performances throughout the night. Littler kicked off with a solid 6-3 win over Stephen Bunting in a match where both players averaged over 100. His ability to close out legs made the difference, converting six doubles from 13 attempts to secure his spot in the semi-finals.
There, he faced Michael van Gerwen in one of the season’s standout matches. The high-scoring battle featured big moments from both sides, including a spectacular 170 checkout from Van Gerwen. Littler matched the intensity, hitting his own impressive finishes and eventually held his nerve in a deciding leg to win 6-5 and move into the final.
On the other side, Gerwyn Price was ruthless in his journey to the final. He opened with a commanding 6-0 victory over Josh Rock, who has continued to struggle in this season’s Premier League. Price’s clinical play, averaging over 100 and converting six doubles from 11 tries, set the tone. He carried that momentum into the semi-finals with a dominant 6-1 win against the reigning champion Luke Humphries, averaging 109.04 and maintaining pressure from the first dart.
The final started predictably, with Price in full control. He quickly jumped to a 5-0 lead, capitalising on Littler’s early missed chances. After finally getting on the board with a 52 finish, Littler seemed outmatched at 5-1. But Price missed several opportunities to close out the match, including a crucial miss at double top for a 72 checkout.
Seizing the moment, Littler struck back with a 76 checkout, shifting the momentum. The Dublin crowd got behind him as he rattled off consecutive legs, eventually tying it at 5-5 after Price missed another double. In the deciding leg, Littler sealed the comeback with a precise 81 checkout, combining treble 17 and double 15, leaving everyone in the arena stunned.
Beyond the headline final, Night Seven had other significant developments in the playoff race. Jonny Clayton, the league leader, took his first quarter-final defeat of the season, losing 6-3 to Luke Humphries. This not only ended Clayton’s unbeaten run at this stage but handed him his first pointless night.
Josh Rock’s struggles also continued. After seven weeks, he remains without a win, suffering a heavy defeat to Price and staying at the bottom of the table as his Premier League debut continues to be a tough challenge.
There was a last-minute change when Gian van Veen withdrew due to illness, giving Van Gerwen a walkover into the semi-finals. Still, Van Gerwen couldn’t take advantage of the extra rest, falling to Littler in a nail-biting deciding leg in the semis.
HOW THE KNICKS PLAN TO REPLACE JOSH HART’S HISTORIC ENERGY
Josh Hart is out with knee pain, but Jalen Brunson returns as the Knicks eye a fifth straight win against the Nets.
The Knicks face a tough challenge Friday night as they’ll be without one of their key glue guys. Josh Hart is sidelined with patellofemoral syndrome in his right knee, a hit that comes at a pretty awkward moment. The team’s riding a four-game winning streak and trying to solidify their playoff standing in the Eastern Conference.
With Hart out, Landry Shamet is expected to slide into the starting lineup. Coach Mike Brown might lean more heavily on veteran Jordan Clarkson and rookie Mohamed Diawara to cover those extra minutes on the floor.
There’s a bit of good news to balance this out: Jalen Brunson is back after missing Tuesday’s game due to a sore ankle and neck strain. That gets the Knicks’ offensive engine back in gear, but losing Hart carries a different kind of weight.
Hart’s been central to this group all season, not just scoring, but keeping the lineups cohesive and pushing the tempo. His relentless hustle, grabbing rebounds, leading fast breaks, and doing the gritty work, helps the whole team click. Brown has openly praised how crucial Hart’s energy and connection are.
“He’s been fantastic, giving us that energy, keeping our group connected,” Brown said after their recent win. “Crashing the boards, picking up the pace, attacking in transition – those are the things that make a difference.”
Brown even compared Hart’s impact to what Andre Iguodala brought to championship-winning teams. It’s that veteran savvy and basketball IQ that might not always show up in stats, but often marks the difference between just making it and truly winning.
Hart’s recent game really underscored what he adds when he’s firing on all cylinders. In Tuesday’s 136-110 rout of the Pacers, he exploded for a Knicks career-high 33 points, hitting 12 of 13 shots and draining all five of his threes. On top of that, he grabbed seven rebounds, dished five assists, and swiped two steals in just 26 minutes.
That wasn’t just a hot streak; it was historic. Hart became the first NBA player ever to score at least 30 points, hit five threes, grab five rebounds, and dish out five assists all on 90% shooting or better. He also joined a very exclusive Knicks group with a 30-point night at 90% shooting.
Thanks in large part to him, New York cruised to a 45-25 season mark. OG Anunoby added 26, Karl-Anthony Towns notched a double-double, and the team looked strong overall.
Now the focus shifts to the supporting cast as the Nets come to town. Shamet will bring much-needed shooting to the starting five. Clarkson’s scoring punch is going to be even more important with Hart out, and Diawara should see more extended minutes, especially on defence.
The Nets will be eager to play spoiler, so the Knicks will need everyone diving after loose balls, maintaining the pace, and staying connected. It will definitely take a collective effort to cover for Hart’s absence.
Hart’s knee issue doesn’t seem like it will drag on, but missing him highlights just how pivotal he has become to New York’s success this season. Brunson’s return helps keep the offence on track, but replacing everything Hart offers, especially following a night like that, is no easy feat.
