Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick admitted they had their chances against the Cleveland Cavaliers after suffering a 122-110 loss on Wednesday night. Jarrett Allen scored a season-high 27 points, and Donovan Mitchell added 26 as the Cavaliers registered their eighth straight win.

James, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday, scored 23 points whereas Austin Reaves had a season-high 35 points with 10 assists and nine rebounds for the Lakers. Anthony Davis added 28 points and 13 rebounds but his efforts went in vain. 

“We certainly had our chances and really believe this against teams as good as Cleveland, you have to play close to perfect basketball,” JJ Redick said during the postgame interview.

“They’re not going to let you beat them. They’re not going to beat themselves. They really believe in what they’re doing.”

Redick also showered praise on LeBron James’ longevity after the veteran became the first player in NBA history to appear in a game in his teens and 40s. James had made his debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers as an 18-year-old.

“I played against LeBron in high school so I knew that he was gonna be great in the NBA,” JJ Redick said. “I don’t think you could ever predict – no matter how much the prognosticators label people that 16, 17, 18 years old whether or not they’re gonna be all-time greats, which he turned out to be

“It’s kind of mind-boggling just to be in this position coaching him, playing against him for 15 years, taking three years of calling his games and then he’s still playing at this level. Feels like he’s just been doing this forever – and not a small stretch in human history – but forever. And that just speaks to his competitive stamina and love for the game.”

The Lakers will next kick off their 2025 against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.