To be honest, LA hasn’t been consistently a threat in the West. They have had their share of struggles, with games going into OT, or an unexpected comeback has helped them through. However, after Wednesday’s 124-116 blowout win against the Houston Rockets and Luka’s heroics, Magic tweeted:
“The Lakers are contenders in the West because of their outstanding improvement on defense,” Johnson wrote. “It’s been a total team effort, starting with man-to-man defense, and their rotations and communication have been excellent. It says a lot about the great job JJ Redick is doing! The Lakers are the most exciting team to watch in the NBA!”
Even as Magic Johnson called out their defensive flaws, the Purple and Gold are flipping the script. Their season defensive rating sits at 115.7, ranked 20th, yet over the last 10 games, it sharpens to 110.8, ranked 8th. Moreover, in March, it dips to 109.7, ranked 7th. Holding a 113.8 scoring Rockets side to 104 twice shows real bite. Credit flows to JJ Redick and a system squeezing grit from a limited roster.
The Lakers are contenders in the West because of their outstanding improvement on defense. It’s been a total team effort, starting with man-to-man defense and their rotations and communication have been excellent. It says a lot about the great job JJ Redick is doing!
The Lakers…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) March 19, 2026
Now, Magic Johnson also tweeted, “In the last week, the Lakers have beaten three Playoff teams – Denver, Minnesota and Houston twice!” And that statement is completely true. The Los Angeles Lakers first took down the Rockets on Monday in a 100-92 win at Toyota Center. LA turned defense into theater. Against Kevin Durant, they wrote a new defensive story.
He dropped 16 early, then stalled at just 2 after halftime, ending with 18 points on 8 of 16 shooting, plus 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Moreover, 7 turnovers, including 6 late, told the real story. JJ Redick unleashed relentless double teams, and even Durant’s “gimmick defense” label could not hide the impact. Meanwhile, the same clamp stayed tight.
Jamal Murray crumbled with 5 points on 1 of 14 shooting, alongside 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and a foul out in a 127-125 OT win over the Denver Nuggets. Then, Anthony Edwards, fresh off multiple 30-plus nights, managed only 14 points on 2-15 shooting, with 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. Marcus Smart led the lockdown in a 120-106 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Magic Johnson praised Luka Doncic
“Lakers Luka Doncic put on a show tonight with 40 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds in their 124-116 win over the Houston Rockets!” Magic tweeted once again. “He had help from LeBron James who had three incredible dunks and finished with 30 points – extending their winning streak to 7.”
He then sliced through pressure to find Rui Hachimura for an alley oop, then repeated the magic for James to make it 117-111. Finally, a contested triple with 58.4 seconds left pushed it to 120-111, sealing his 40-point masterclass.
Meanwhile, James turned efficiency into art. Embracing a third option role behind Doncic and Reaves, the 23-year veteran exploded with a stunning 13-for-14 shooting night, an elite 92.9% clip. Add six thunderous dunks, and it matched the best efficiency mark of his career, last seen in 2013. Therefore, while the role shifted, the dominance and timing stayed intact.
So, right now, the Los Angeles Lakers feel like a storm no one can quite read. The offense remains unbeatable, and the defense now bites back with intent. Magic Johnson is watching closely as belief grows louder. Title contenders in the West, he says. With Luka Doncic leading the charge and LeBron James rewriting time, this run feels real, dangerous, and perfectly timed, to say the least.
