ORLANDO, Fla. — The Lakers' winning streak was on the line.
And there was an unlikely hero.
With the Magic up 104-102 with 2.6 seconds left, Marcus Smart was throwing the inbounds pass, looking for LeBron James , who was cutting hard to the basket, or Luka Doncic , who flashed to the other side of the 3-point line.
But they were heavily contested.
Lakers guard Luke Kennard scored the game-winning basket Saturday against the host Magic. AP
Instead, Smart tossed the ball to Luke Kennard , who was wide open behind the 3-point line. It was a giant error by the Magic, considering Kennard has the best 3-point percentage in the league at 48.6%.
Kennard swished the shot with 0.6 seconds remaining. He was mobbed by his teammates, who jumped around him in a circle.
"I didn't really know what was going on, I was just screaming," said Kennard, who had 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting. "I remember somebody, I don't know who it was, somebody picked me up. But it was really cool. It's a cool moment. Haven't had many like that in the NBA, I don't think."
James was the player who literally swept him off his feet.
"When I turned and saw who the ball was in his hands on a wide open 3, I pretty much knew it was cash," said James, who had 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals on a historical night in which he passed Robert Parish for most regular season games played (1,612).
The Lakers have now won 12 of their last 13 games, including nine straight, their longest winning streak since the 2019-2020 season when they won their 17th championship. All of a sudden, they're considered real contenders. The last time the Lakers played the Magic, the game also came down to the wire, but there was a very different narrative around the Lakers.
They were losers.
With the Magic up 110-109 and 6.7 seconds left on Feb. 24, Doncic passed up an open game-winner and instead dished the ball to James, who was surprised, off-balance and forced to take a desperation shot that he missed.
The Lakers have now won 12 of their last 13 games, including nine straight. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Making matters worse, that moment capped a disappointing eight-game homestand in which the Lakers went 4-4. And it was smack in the middle of a three-game losing streak.
At that time, the Lakers seemed lost. Discombobulated. Not together.
Fast forward 3 ½ weeks, things couldn't be more different.
Kennard was the Lakers' savior Saturday, and over the last nine games things have coalesced for the team in a way no one expected, with everyone doing their part.
Doncic is playing MVP-caliber basketball. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic is playing MVP-caliber basketball. Reaves is playing as though he firmly believes he's the second option. James is sacrificing. Deandre Ayton is being aggressive. Smart is pouring himself into the defensive end.
Everyone is shining.
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On Saturday, it was Kennard's turn. He had been lurking in the shadows, waiting for his opportunity to emphatically prove to the world what he can do on this streaking Lakers team.
Boy, did the Lakers need him.
Doncic, who had a game-high 33 points, opened the contest shooting a scorching 10-for-15 from the field before turning stone cold, going 2-for-13 in the second half. He even picked up his 16th technical foul late in the third quarter after exchanging words with Goga Bitadze , meaning he'll be suspended for Monday's contest against the Pistons unless it gets rescinded.
The Magic defense was collapsing on James and Reaves. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers trailed by as much as seven points before clawing their way back into the game. They were shooting 1-for-10 from beyond the arc before the final second. The Magic defense was collapsing on James, Doncic and Reaves.
Kennard saw his chance.
After the Lakers traded for him before the Feb. 5 deadline, they were hoping he'd help plug one of their biggest holes: their woeful 3-point shooting.
Since then, Kennard hasn't been shooting up to his standards, averaging 8.4 points on 44.3% shooting from beyond the 3-point line. Over the last six games, Kennard was 3-for-14 from distance.
This was his chance to prove what he could do.
James, arguably the greatest player of all time, had accepted being the third option on the team. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Everyone else had seized the opportunity to do so during the Lakers' heater. Doncic was playing MVP-level basketball, averaging 40.9 points and 7.4 assists over the last eight games before Saturday. James, arguably the greatest player of all time, had accepted being the team's third option, which had made the offense hum. Reaves was hunting for his shot. And Ayton had finally bought into his role, focusing on helping the team win instead of pouting about not being a star.
And with the Lakers' win streak on the line, Kennard stepped up, making his second game-winning shot of his career.
He starred in his role when the Lakers needed him most. He was ready. He didn't hesitate.
The Lakers are proving that they're championship contenders.
And Kennard just showed that he belongs, which makes LA much more dangerous.
