Whether it was his “crunk juice” or some other source of motivation, it’s clear something has gotten into Deandre Ayton, who is back to being an engaged, physical center the Lakers need to succeed.
Ayton has become the talk of the town for the right reasons as of late, between double-doubles against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls and clutch plays against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. With another five games coming against a series of contenders, the former No. 1 pick’s play will be vital going forward.
Lakers’ Deandre Ayton Stepping Up Before Crucial Stretch
Ayton’s Energy and Focus Paying Dividends for LA
As the Lakers ride the momentum of a five-game winning streak, Ayton has made his presence felt throughout the process, only missing a Mar. 6 win over the Pacers due to a knee injury. It started with a modest matchup against the New York Knicks (six points, four rebounds), where head coach JJ Redick praised Ayton for his effort and defense. Then came a pair of double-doubles against the Timberwolves (14 points, 12 rebounds) on Mar. 10 and Bulls (23 points, ten rebounds) on Mar. 12, where the big man appeared to return toward the 20-point, ten-rebound center he was at the start of the season.
“Felt like I picked up my energy and my focus,” Ayton said after the win against Chicago. “You know, I finally caught up with the team. That’s about it.”
Overtime W vs. Denver
As the spotlight of the Lakers-Nuggets game veers between Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves and even Marcus Smart, Ayton’s contributions shouldn’t go unnoticed, either.
While Saturday’s overtime win may not have produced another elite stat line from him (nine points, nine rebounds, two assists, one block), Ayton’s crunch-time presence—a rarity prior to that game—was eye-opening.
So many notable performances by Lakers players tonight and certainly worth mentioning Deandre Ayton’s performance in overtime: four points on 2-for-2 shooting, 2 reb and a blocked shot on the three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
Jokic in OT: two points on 1-for-4 shooting, 1 reb
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 15, 2026
Nuggets went 1-5 shooting against Deandre Ayton in overtime while also chipping in 4 of LA's 9 OT points, including a huge offensive rebound and putback. Great to see DA playing like this pic.twitter.com/ZUuLIzYpOu
— Trevor Lane (@TrevorLane) March 15, 2026
Ayton held his own against Jokic, which was a pleasant surprise considering their last meeting but not all uncommon when looking at his career matchups against the Joker. He shot 4-of-6 from the field—including an overtime layup that briefly gave LA the lead—and his lone swat came when LA needed it the most, with 23 seconds left in OT. And while Reaves got his flowers for the mind-boggling missed free-throw that led to the game-tying floater, Ayton deserves credit for keeping Jokic under the basket and securing the empty space for Reaves to grab the rebound.
Marcus Smart, who’s gone to bat for Ayton amid his struggles, was quick to heap praise on the eighth-year big man:
“He was huge. … Just his energy, and especially because he was in and out at the time like that. As a player, no matter who you are, when you’re coming in like that, it’s hard to get into a rhythm, and it can get frustrating. But he stayed with it and he controlled his pain on both ends [Saturday night]. So, we’re very proud of him.”
Another Big Test Ahead for Lakers, Ayton
The Lakers will face four contenders in their next five games as part of a (mostly) grueling road trip. First up—ironically enough—is a two-game mini series against the Houston Rockets, in which gameday graphics pairing Ayton and Clint Capela are inevitably going to flood social media. Then, the Lakers will battle Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat followed by the formidable frontcourt of the Orlando Magic—all before attempting to avoid any malicious activity in a duel with the Detroit Pistons.
Suffice it to say, the Lakers will need Ayton locked in for all of these matchups, as they present the kind of “playoff-type” games Smart discussed on Saturday. A mature, disciplined and engaged Ayton gives the Lakers a dangerous look and an edge they didn’t necessarily have in last year’s postseason. For as much attention as the big three receive, it’s role players like Ayton who deserve the same hype with how they contribute to the team’s winning ways. While it’s been a rollercoaster year for the Lakers’ latest starting center, it’s also clear he’s picking up the intensity at the perfect time.
© William Liang-Imagn Images
