LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The Los Angeles Lakers seized control with a decisive second quarter and cruised to a 110-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night at crypto.com Arena. Deandre Ayton scored 25 points on perfect 10-for-10 shooting in his return from a knee injury, leading a balanced Lakers attack before a crowd of 18,997. Luka Doncic added 25 points and seven assists, while LeBron James contributed 24 points and seven assists. The Lakers outscored the Raptors 64-50 across the second and third periods to turn a close game into a comfortable win. Toronto, which led 30-23 after one quarter, was paced by Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. The Lakers improved to 25-16, while the Raptors fell to 25-19.

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Deandre Ayton scored 25 points on a perfect shooting night in his return from injury, LeBron James added 24 points and seven assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers pulled away in the second half for a 110-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night at a sold-out crypto.com Arena. Luka Doncic also had 25 points and seven assists for the Lakers, who won for just the second time in seven games. The victory provided a positive send-off before the team embarks on an eight-game, 15-day road trip. Ayton, playing for the first time since a knee injury, was flawless from the field, making all 10 of his shot attempts. He added 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who improved to 25-16. His performance was his highest-scoring game since Nov. 3. The game’s most important stretch came in the second and third quarters, when the Lakers transformed an early deficit into a commanding lead. Toronto started strong, leading 30-23 after the first quarter behind efficient play from Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles. The Raptors’ early energy was fueled by a 10-0 run, capped by a Brandon Ingram dunk off an Immanuel Quickley assist that gave them a 10-4 lead, forcing an early Lakers timeout. The momentum shifted decisively in the second period. With the Lakers trailing 32-25, they unleashed a 25-8 run over a seven-minute span to seize control. The surge was fueled by their star trio. James hit a 26-foot three-pointer, Ayton finished an alley-oop from Marcus Smart, and Doncic found Ayton for another dunk. James capped the run with a driving floating jumper and a technical free throw, putting Los Angeles ahead 50-38. The Lakers outscored the Raptors 32-24 in the quarter to take a 55-54 lead into halftime. Los Angeles then put the game out of reach in the third quarter. After Toronto drew within 60-59 on a Quickley three-pointer, the Lakers responded with a 15-4 burst. Doncic connected on a 28-foot three-pointer, Ayton scored inside, and James finished a fast-break layup after a sequence of defensive stops that included blocks by James and Doncic on consecutive Raptors attempts. Another three-pointer from Rui Hachimura late in the period extended the Lakers’ advantage to 87-81 heading into the fourth. The Raptors, who shot poorly throughout the second half, had no answer in the final quarter. The Lakers opened the period with a 10-2 run, featuring jumpers from James and a three-pointer from Smart, to push their lead to 99-91 and effectively end the contest. Toronto managed only 13 points in the fourth quarter on a combination of stagnant offense and stifling Lakers defense. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 22 points. Brandon Ingram added 19 points, and Sandro Mamukelashvili provided 16 points off the bench. Toronto, which fell to 25-19, saw its two-game winning streak snapped and continued to struggle offensively against the Lakers, having lost 123-120 in the teams’ previous meeting in December. The Lakers dominated the interior, outscoring Toronto 62-44 in the paint. Ayton’s presence was a major factor, as the Raptors had no consistent answer for his size and efficiency around the basket. Los Angeles also capitalized on Toronto’s 15 turnovers, converting them into 21 points. Attendance was 18,997. The Lakers begin their lengthy road trip Tuesday in Denver. The Raptors continue their West Coast swing Tuesday at Golden State.

Preview: Raptors at Lakers, Sunday, January 18, 2026 LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Two of the NBA’s marquee franchises, both hovering near the top of their respective conferences, will clash Sunday when the Toronto Raptors visit the Los Angeles Lakers at crypto.com Arena. The matchup features a compelling duel between All-Star forwards in peak form. Toronto’s Scottie Barnes enters on a remarkable run, averaging 21.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists over his last 10 games. That stretch includes a triple-double of 23 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Golden State on Dec. 28 and a 41-minute, 24-point effort in a narrow loss to the L.A. Clippers on Friday. For the Lakers, LeBron James continues to defy time, averaging 25.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists over his last 10 contests. He posted 31 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists in a blowout win over Atlanta on Tuesday, though the Lakers are coming off a disappointing 135-117 home loss to Charlotte on Thursday. The Raptors (25-18) and Lakers (24-15) are separated by just 1.5 games in the overall standings, adding significant weight to this interconference showdown. Toronto has won seven of its last 11 but is 1-2 on its current road trip. Los Angeles has been inconsistent at home lately, alternating wins and losses in its last six games at crypto.com Arena. In their only previous meeting this season, the Lakers edged the Raptors 123-120 in Toronto on Dec. 4. Sunday’s game could see a similar offensive pace, with the over/under set at 226.5 points. The contest kicks off a challenging stretch for both teams. Following Sunday, the Raptors continue a six-game road trip with stops in Golden State, Sacramento and Portland. The Lakers embark on a seven-game trip starting Tuesday in Denver, with a marquee matchup against the crosstown Clippers on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PST. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.