Lakers vs. Jazz: LeBron, Dončić Lead L.A. in Thrilling 117-112 Win Over Utah at Delta Center

When LeBron James hit a step-back three with 1:12 left, the Los Angeles Lakers sealed a 117-112 comeback victory over the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, November 24, 2025. It wasn’t just another win—it was a statement. With Luka Dončić orchestrating the offense and LeBron James delivering clutch buckets, the Lakers snapped a two-game skid and moved into the Western Conference’s top eight. The game, played before a raucous crowd of 18,306, featured a 12-point spurt fueled by six straight threes in under three minutes—a sequence that flipped the script after Utah had led by 11 in the third quarter.

Coaching Shake-Up and Tactical Shifts

Here’s the twist: Darvin Ham is no longer the Lakers’ head coach. In a quiet but seismic move last summer, the franchise hired J.J. Redick, the former All-Star guard turned analyst, to take over. Fans were skeptical—how could a broadcaster run a locker room? But Redick’s approach has been quietly brilliant. He’s cut down practices by 40%, prioritized film sessions over grueling drills, and empowered his stars to lead. During the Jazz’s 11-point run in the third, Redick called a timeout, leaned into LeBron James, and said, "You’ve got two minutes. Don’t force it. Let them come to you." The Lakers didn’t score again until the final 90 seconds—but when they did, it was perfect.

Meanwhile, Will Hardy, the Jazz’s 35-year-old head coach, has been building something different: a young, athletic core with zero superstar. His team led the league in second-chance points entering this game. But turnovers killed them—19 in total, including four by rookie point guard Mark Williams in the fourth. "We’re five games out," Hardy said postgame, "but we’re not out of it. We just need to play cleaner."

The Numbers That Mattered

• Lakers shot 52% from three (13-of-25), including 7-of-9 in the fourth quarter
• Dončić finished with 28 points, 11 assists, and zero turnovers—his best game of the season
• LeBron added 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, playing 36 minutes despite a mild hamstring strain
• Utah’s bench scored just 19 points, compared to L.A.’s 42
• Turnovers: Lakers 8, Jazz 19

The Lakers’ 12 straight threes? That wasn’t a fluke. It was a designed set—"Horns High"—run five times in 90 seconds. Redick installed it after watching the 2020 Nuggets use it against the Jazz in the bubble. "They never adjusted," Redick told reporters. "So we knew they wouldn’t this time."

Streaming and Viewing Details

For fans who couldn’t make it to Salt Lake City, the game streamed on fuboTV, NBA League Pass, and the NBA League Pass Amazon Channel. The standard NBA League Pass subscription costs $6.99/month or $59.99/year. Notably, one YouTube stream titled "NBA LIVE! Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz November 24, 2025" was flagged by the NBA as simulated gameplay from NBA 2K25—a reminder that not all "live" streams are real. The real game, however, delivered drama: a wild final three minutes where Utah pulled within two after a deep three by Jordan Clarkson, only to see LeBron James answer with a turnaround fadeaway over three defenders.

Rivalry Rekindled

This wasn’t just a regular-season game. It was a callback to the 1980s and ’90s, when Magic Johnson and John Stockton battled in playoff wars that defined an era. The Lakers and Jazz met 11 times in the postseason between 1984 and 1998. Now, with both teams in transition, this matchup carries new weight. The Jazz, once perennial contenders, are rebuilding around young talents like Keyonte George and Walker Kessler. The Lakers? They’re gambling on age and chemistry. With LeBron James at 40 and Luka Dončić in his first season with L.A., this team’s ceiling is unknown. But their timing? Right now, it’s perfect.

What’s Next?

The Lakers (8-7) host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. The Jazz (5-9) travel to Phoenix for a back-to-back. Both teams have 58 games left. In the brutal Western Conference, where the 8th seed could be decided by a single game, every win matters. Redick’s strategy of breaking the season into 10-game "chunks"—as he called it during a pregame interview—is starting to pay off. "We’re not thinking about the playoffs," he said. "We’re thinking about the next 10 games. Then the next 10. And so on."

As for the Jazz? They’re still searching for identity. But they’re not out. Not yet.