Lakers Clutch-Time Record Stays Perfect in 2026 Opener
The Los Angeles Lakers opened 2026 with a 128-121 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena. The victory extended the Lakers’ perfect record in clutch-time games this season.
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The game remained close in the final minutes. With just over five minutes left, neither team led by more than one point. The Lakers entered clutch time for the first time since December 18.
What “Lakers Clutch-Time Record” Means — and Why It Matters
The NBA defines clutch time as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score margin is five points or fewer. It is where decision-making, defensive discipline, and execution matter most.
Entering their first game of 2026, the Lakers were 10-0 in clutch-time games. No other team in the league had avoided multiple late-game losses. Even more remarkable, Los Angeles had played the fewest clutch-time minutes in the NBA this season, totaling just 24 minutes across 10 games.
Against Memphis, the Lakers were officially back in clutch time for the first time since December 18. The result was familiar: defensive stops, controlled offense, and another win.
A Rare Game Script for Los Angeles
This contest broke new ground for the Lakers in several ways. It marked the first time this season that a Los Angeles game was tied after three quarters. Memphis had already erased a 13-point deficit in the first quarter and a 15-point gap in the second, refusing to let the Lakers pull away.
Despite those swings, the game stayed tight well into the fourth quarter. That scenario has often exposed weaknesses for many teams around the league.
When the game entered clutch time, the outcome felt inevitable.
Defense Defines the Lakers’ Late Success
Lakers head coach JJ Redick has been careful not to overstate the significance of a small sample size. Still, the numbers are striking. Los Angeles owns the best clutch-time defensive rating in the NBA, allowing just 89.8 points per 100 possessions in those moments.
Opponents have struggled mightily against the Lakers late, shooting only 34.1 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from three-point range in clutch situations. Free throws have not come easily either.
“Our defense has been really good in the clutch,” Redick said after the win, pointing to effort and urgency rather than scheme alone.
That urgency showed late against Memphis. With Jaxson Hayes back on the floor and Marcus Smart applying pressure, the Lakers blitzed Ja Morant, forcing turnovers and preventing the Grizzlies from generating clean looks. Once Los Angeles gained a slim edge, Memphis never brought the game back to a single possession.
Luka Dončić Leads with Control
Luka Dončić delivered another statement performance, scoring a game-high 34 points while controlling the tempo in the fourth quarter. He went 17-of-20 from the free-throw line, outscoring the entire Grizzlies team at the stripe.
Whether attacking the paint or drawing help defenders, he consistently made the right read. One of those reads led to a decisive Jarred Vanderbilt three-pointer after Dončić collapsed the defense.
“When the game gets tight, you can press up and play better defense,” Dončić said. “It’s about trying to do it for 48 minutes.”
Marcus Smart’s Two-Way Impact
Marcus Smart played one of his most complete games of the season. In 34 minutes, the Lakers outscored Memphis by 18 points. Smart finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, a steal, and a block, while shooting efficiently from the field and from deep.
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Smart’s defensive instincts were crucial in the final minutes. His deflection on a Morant pass disrupted Memphis’ rhythm and led to a sequence of stops that swung momentum fully toward Los Angeles.
“I just try to make the right play,” Smart said. “Using my IQ, my size, and my skill set to help the team.”
Winning Close Matters More Than Style
The Lakers improved to 21-11 with the win, despite being outscored overall this season. In games that never reach clutch time, they are just 10-11. But basketball standings do not reward point differential; they reward wins.
Around the league, teams like the Golden State Warriors have posted stronger net ratings but struggled mightily in close games. Los Angeles, by contrast, has made late execution a habit.
History suggests that too many clutch games are not ideal for championship teams. Still, the ability to win them is essential.
A Statement Start to 2026
The 2026 opener did not come easily. Memphis competed, attacked early offense, and tested the Lakers at every turn. Yet when the game slowed, Los Angeles controlled the details that decide outcomes.
The Lakers clutch-time record remains unblemished, and while questions about sustainability remain, one fact is undeniable: when games tighten late, the Lakers expect to win.
