Lakers Practice Report: Luka Dončić Gets Up Shots, Jake LaRavia Day-to-Day

The team also heard a strong message from starting center Deandre Ayton, who emphasized the importance of staying focused despite taking care of business at home with a 2-0 lead heading to Houston for the next two games.

“LeBron is making it very known not to get comfortable, and JJ as well,” Ayton said after practice. “So, don’t get too complacent. This is the playoffs. Anything happens and we wanna handle business, just like how we handled business here. Keep everything solid and take the stuff we did in the lab over there to use it.”

Ayton’s comments reflect the urgency and hyperfocus they praised in practice throughout the week prior to the playoffs.

L.A. heads into a tougher environment on the road in Houston, as the Rockets were one of just six teams in the NBA this season with at least 30 wins at home. The Rockets were 30-11 at the Toyota Center, which was the third best home record in the Western Conference.

With Dončić continuing light on-court work and LaRavia considered day-to-day, the Lakers appear to be trending in a positive direction health-wise entering Game 3. Still, the focus remains on carrying over the intensity and discipline that helped them protect home court.

The Lakers will now travel to Houston, where they’ll look to keep control and momentum of the series in a pivotal Game 3.