Who is Nick Smith Jr.?

Nick Smith Jr. is a two-way contract player for the Los Angeles Lakers who recently had a standout performance, scoring 25 points and hitting 5 three-pointers in a road win against the Portland Trail Blazers.

How did the Lakers win without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves?

The Lakers were able to pull off the 123-115 road win against the Blazers despite missing key players Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, thanks to the impressive performance of two-way player Nick Smith Jr.

Home / Sports / Two-Way Rookie Lifts Lakers to Surprise Road Win

Two-Way Rookie Lifts Lakers to Surprise Road Win

Q: What did Lakers coach JJ Redick say about Nick Smith Jr.'s performance?

Redick praised Smith's impact, saying "Nick Smith in the second half, he just took the game over. We needed his handle and we needed his wiggle tonight. Truthfully it was a perfect game for him."

4 Nov

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Summary

Lakers win 123-115 against Blazers despite key absences
Nick Smith Jr. scores 25 points, hits 5 of 6 three-pointers
Coach Redick praises Smith's impact in the second half

Two-Way Rookie Lifts Lakers to Surprise Road Win

On November 4th, 2025, the Los Angeles Lakers secured an impressive 123-115 road win against the Portland Trail Blazers. This victory was particularly noteworthy as the Lakers were without two of their key players, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who sat out due to the second night of a back-to-back.

In their absence, it was two-way contract player Nick Smith Jr. who stepped up and led the Lakers to the win. Smith finished the game with 25 points, including a blistering 5-of-6 shooting from three-point range. He also contributed 1 rebound, 6 assists, and 2 steals in just over 26 minutes of playing time.

Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Smith's impact, saying, "Nick Smith in the second half, he just took the game over. We needed his handle and we needed his wiggle tonight. Truthfully it was a perfect game for him."