The Lakers had Sunday night’s rematch against the Memphis Grizzlies under scrutiny after JJ Redick reproved their execution following timeouts two days earlier. Despite the grand win on Friday, Los Angeles had failed to execute sets as drawn, prompting HC to question the team’s focus and accountability.
That disapproval carried into the January 4, 2026, game at Crypto.com Arena, where the Lakers answered with cleaner structure and improved discipline. L.A. erased a 16-point second-quarter deficit and secured a 120-114 win, completing a two-game home sweep of Memphis.
JJ Redick’s Lakers Clean Up ATO Execution in Game Vs Memphis
After the game, Redick confirmed a significant improvement in after-timeout execution compared to Friday’s outing. On January 5, 2026, Redick said the Lakers had just one missed ATO in the win.
In Sunday’s win over Memphis: just “F-up” on an ATO, per Redick.
JJ Redick said the Lakers botched eight of 12 ATOs (after timeout plays) in Friday's win over the Grizzlies, which LeBron James said was "unacceptable".
In Sunday's win over Memphis: just "F-up" on an ATO, per Redick.
LeBron: "It's great that we can have that type of… pic.twitter.com/bswGfKDv4V
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) January 5, 2026
That marked a sharp contrast from January 3, when Redick revealed the Lakers ran 12 after-timeout plays against Memphis and executed eight incorrectly. Several of those plays were attempted more than once and still broken, an issue Redick described as unacceptable given the controlled nature of ATO situations.
The improvement followed direct film sessions and internal discussions centered on spacing, player positioning, and role clarity. Redick emphasized that players entered sets quickly and maintained structure, rather than freelancing.
Later, LeBron James addressed the correction and explained how the group responded:
“It’s great that we can have that type of conversation,” James said. “Guys hear it, take it, and take full responsibility. And then come in here and be able to make that change like that, that 180 change, right away.”
On the court, execution improved during key stretches. The Lakers closed the third quarter on an 8-2 run to cut Memphis’s lead to four. In the fourth quarter, Los Angeles generated consistent half-court looks, with Luka Doncic controlling possessions and LeBron managing tempo.
Thirty six points came from Doncic, along with nine boards and eight dimes. Scoring 26 himself, James also handed out 10 assists. Off the bench, LaRavia found buckets versus his old squad, sparking the Lakers’ first edge since minute one. Jaylen Wells stepped up, scoring 23 to top the Grizzlies’ effort. Memphis Ja Moran is sidelined due to calf issues. Early on, rookie Cedric Coward showed strong signs: 16 points and nine boards before halftime, but left after twisting his ankle late in the second half.
The Lakers were also short-handed, missing Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura due to calf injuries. Redick said execution expectations remain unchanged regardless of personnel.
The bounce-back win showed measurable progress in an area Redick has prioritized. After Friday’s breakdowns, Sunday’s ATO performance reflected immediate adjustment rather than gradual improvement.
