The Los Angeles Lakers got the job done against the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
While Austin Reaves has yet to return to the Lakers’ lineup due to a calf injury suffered on Christmas Day, Luka Doncic orchestrated another masterful performance (46 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds) and guided Los Angeles to a pivotal 28-17 road victory over Chicago.
Toward the end of the contest, Jaxson Hayes, who finished the contest with eight rebounds and four rebounds, executed a rare in-game dunk that left Doncic stunned.
With three minutes remaining in the game, Hayes ripped Josh Giddey as he was attempting a left-to-right crossover on the perimeter, and completed a forceful Eastbay dunk to extend the Lakers’ lead to 14 points.
While the NBA has plenty of players capable of pulling off a between-the-legs slam in the middle of a game, few are bold enough to run the risk of getting embarrassed and potentially benched by their head coach (depending on how much time is left in the game).
Obi Toppin and Greg Brown III are the two other names that come to mind when thinking about above-the-rim athletes who converted an in-game Eastbay.
Will Hayes attempt the same dunk again later this season? Perhaps, but Lakers fans shouldn’t expect the Texas product to make it a regular occurrence in a Los Angeles uniform.
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