After a dominant first half, the Lakers had to hold on for a late victory against the Wolves on Thursday.

The game wasn’t exactly aesthetically pleasing. Los Angeles struggled with their long-range shooting, hitting just 11 of 41 attempts (26.8%) from beyond the arc. They fared a bit better at the free-throw line, making 32 of 46 shots (69.6%).

While we’ll touch on some individual player performances that left much to be desired, it’s important to remember that not every win needs to be pretty. Reflecting on earlier encounters with the Wolves this season, we should be grateful for this win.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the victory. As always, player grades are based on their expected performance. A “B” denotes a standard performance level for that player.

Rui Hachimura

18 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2-6 FG, 1-4 3PT, +21

There’s unfortunate news regarding Rui’s injury. As head coach JJ Redick stated, it’s best not to speculate on the severity, but it’s possible he might be sidelined for a bit.

Rui had truly begun to shine on both ends of the court. Here’s hoping his absence will be brief or avoided entirely.

Grade: B

LeBron James

37 minutes, 33 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 11-21 FG, 4-9 3PT, 7-10 FT, +12

It’s remarkable to witness LeBron continually evolve his game. He has adjusted his positioning and increased his rebounding efforts while seeing a slight reduction in assists. Watching him execute those outlet passes from Luka is always thrilling.

Grade: A

Jaxson Hayes

23 minutes, 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 3-5 FG, 4-6 FT, +18

Hayes delivered another commendable performance, stepping up in the absence of Rui. He effectively matched up against Naz Reid, who managed only a single field goal and three points.

This marks yet another strong outing for Hayes, who has really risen to the occasion since Anthony Davis’s trade.

Grade: A-

Austin Reaves

38 minutes, 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 5-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 11-12 FT, +9

Reaves was one of the few Lakers who shot efficiently during the game. Just as it’s impressive to see LeBron adapt, Reaves has maintained his slick performance throughout this season despite frequent role changes.

He is now back as an off-ball contributor, effortlessly averaging 20 points per game.

Grade: A-

Luka Dončić

36 minutes, 21 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 6-20 FG, 1-9 3PT, 8-12 FT, +0

This was undoubtedly Luka’s toughest outing since joining the Lakers. He struggled to find his shot, faced challenges on defense, and couldn’t establish a rhythm. Despite this, he managed to hit a crucial shot late in the game to help secure the win.

Let’s chalk this up to Luka still finding his form and hope for a quick return to normalcy.

Grade: D+

Dorian Finney-Smith

31 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1-4 FG, 1-4 3PT, +1

Even Dorian didn’t seem to contribute as many impactful plays as in previous games. However, he may be called into a more significant role if Rui has to sit out.

Grade: C+

Gabe Vincent

20 minutes, 4 points, 1 rebound, 1-6 FG, 0-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, -5

Vincent is currently in a slump after a strong stretch with the Lakers. In his last four games, he has shot just 6 for 24 overall and 4 for 20 from three-point range. Hopefully a breakout performance is just around the corner.

Grade: D

Jarred Vanderbilt

13 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2-3 FG, 1-2 3PT, 0-2 FT, -17

Vanderbilt’s performance wasn’t his best. He managed a corner three and assisted LeBron on a nice alley-oop, but more positive plays were expected.

He has been on a strict minutes limit that could be adjusted if Rui ends up missing time.

Grade: C-

Jordan Goodwin

13 minutes, 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals, 3-5 FG, 1-2 3PT, +8

Goodwin had a solid bounce-back performance, showcasing his value to the team. The Lakers might need to consider signing him to a standard NBA contract for playoff eligibility before the end of the season.

Grade: B+

Dalton Knecht

11 minutes, 1 rebound, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-2 FT, -2

It would be wonderful to see Knecht have a breakout shooting performance in an upcoming game. His impressive play in November feels like a distant memory now.

Grade: F

JJ Redick

There were moments where Redick could have perhaps called a timeout to interrupt a Wolves run, but the Lakers often responded effectively on their own. This may just be a result of him understanding his team’s dynamics better than an outsider does.

Grade: B

Thursday’s DNPs: Alex Len, Shake Milton, Markieff Morris, Cam Reddish

Thursday’s inactives: Bronny James, Trey Jemison III, Christian Koloko, Maxi Kleber

Follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.