Lakers' Luke Kennard hits game-winning 3 to extend win streak to 9 games

Kennard's clutch shot lifts Lakers over Magic after coach JJ Redick helped him break out of shooting slump

Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:22am

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In a tight game against the Orlando Magic, Lakers guard Luke Kennard hit a game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds to give Los Angeles its 9th straight victory. Kennard had been in a minor shooting slump, but a conversation with coach JJ Redick helped him "get out of his head" and regain his confidence, leading to the decisive shot that capped a wild sequence in the final minute.

Why it matters

The Lakers' win streak has helped them climb up the Western Conference standings, and Kennard's clutch performance shows the team's depth and resilience as they continue their push toward the playoffs. Redick's ability to relate to Kennard as a former shooter also highlights the value of veteran leadership on the coaching staff.

The details

Kennard had made only 3 of his last 14 3-point attempts over the previous 6 games, dropping his season percentage to 48.1%. After a meeting with Redick, who shared stories of overcoming his own shooting slumps, Kennard felt more confident and aggressive. With the Lakers down 2 points in the final seconds, Kennard was left wide open after a designed play and calmly knocked down the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired.

  • Kennard had made only 3 of his last 14 3-point attempts over the previous 6 games.
  • With the Lakers down 2 points and 2.6 seconds left, Kennard hit the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired.

The players

Luke Kennard

A Lakers guard who was acquired at the trade deadline for his 3-point shooting prowess, and hit the game-winning shot to extend the team's win streak to 9 games.

JJ Redick

The Lakers assistant coach who had a conversation with Kennard to help him break out of his minor shooting slump.

Luka Dončić

The Lakers star who led the team with 33 points in the win over the Magic.

Austin Reaves

The Lakers guard who had 26 points in the victory.

LeBron James

The Lakers veteran who scored 12 points and set the NBA record for most regular-season games played on the night of the win.

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What they’re saying

“He just told me to be yourself and move on from all that. They need me to be aggressive when I'm out there. So I thought it was a really good conversation, and I'm glad we had it. Tonight was really good.”

— Luke Kennard, Lakers Guard

“We've done it in different ways. We've won ugly games where it wasn't great offensively. Won it with our defense, and then we've dominated some games offensively. But just getting a rhythm, playing alongside one another, having fun and getting wins.”

— Austin Reaves, Lakers Guard

“As soon as he caught it and then released it, yeah, everybody knew it was in. We all had that perfect angle.”

— JJ Redick, Lakers Assistant Coach

What’s next

The Lakers will look to extend their win streak to 10 games when they face the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

The takeaway

Kennard's game-winning shot and the Lakers' resilience in the face of adversity demonstrate the team's depth and chemistry as they continue their push toward the playoffs. Redick's ability to connect with Kennard as a former shooter also highlights the value of experienced leadership on the coaching staff.