The Los Angeles Lakers benched Deandre Ayton in the fourth quarter, and head coach JJ Redick bluntly said Jaxson Hayes was playing better as the reason in his postgame presser. The coach isn’t wrong. Ayton was virtually invisible for the entire game and has been a problem during the franchise’s recent slump. Redick’s fourth-quarter benching likely saved the win over Memphis.
Ayton finished with four points, six rebounds, and one steal in 25 minutes of action. He took just four field goal attempts and was not playing with the energy LA needed. Fans know Ayton wants shots.