The Los Angeles Lakers let a sure win slip through their fingers on Thursday night, March 27, in one of the most frustrating losses of their season. Facing a Chicago Bulls squad that has struggled all year, the Lakers should have closed things out easily. Instead, they collapsed in the final 30 seconds, with mistakes from their biggest stars opening the door for a stunning Bulls comeback. For a team with championship ambitions, this wasn’t just a bad loss, it was an embarrassing one.

After that brutal loss, Lakers head coach JJ Redick didn’t waste a second. With a crucial game against the Memphis Grizzlies coming up, he called an early Saturday morning meeting with LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves. No sugarcoating, no pep talk—just a direct challenge. They had to be better. They had to lead.

J.J. Redick knew his team needed a shift in mentality, and he placed the responsibility on his Big Three. “We challenged all three of them when we get to their three-man actions to play with a little more force, a little more thrust, and a little more creativity,” Redick said via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

The message landed. That night, the Los Angeles Lakers stormed back with a 134-127 win over the Grizzlies, looking like a team that had something to prove. LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves stepped up in a big way, combining for 120 points and showing the kind of chemistry and leadership Redick had demanded. Reaves, in particular, caught fire, leading the charge with 31 points on a sharp 8-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-8 from deep.

After the game, Reaves opened up about how the meeting forced them to reset and refocus. “I think the meeting was just still trying to build that chemistry amongst the three of us to help the team be successful,” he said. “Tonight, it just showed that when we play the right way and trust one another, especially offensively, we can have open looks on almost every possession. … It was really just a conversation about how bad all of us want to win and win at a high level.”

This win wasn’t just about bouncing back—it had real implications for the Western Conference standings. The Lakers and Grizzlies entered the game tied at 44-29, making it a crucial showdown. By coming out on top, Los Angeles not only improved to 45-29 but also jumped into the fourth seed, boosting their chances of securing home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Ja Morant made his return for Memphis after being sidelined since March 14, and while he put up 22 points and 10 assists, he wasn’t quite in rhythm. Shooting just 9-of-23 from the field, he showed some rust, and the Lakers took full advantage, keeping control of the game from start to finish.

With the postseason approaching, Redick’s ability to get his stars locked in at the right time might be exactly what the Lakers need. James and Doncic are asserting their dominance, while Reaves is proving to be a key offensive weapon. The Lakers are gaining momentum at the perfect moment. Their next test comes Monday night against the Houston Rockets, a team sitting ahead of them in the standings. Another statement win could solidify their standing as a real threat in the West.