The Los Angeles Lakers were forced to pivot quickly after learning that Deandre Ayton would be a late scratch from Sunday night’s matchup against the Miami Heat. With their starting center sidelined, the Lakers turned to Jaxson Hayes — and he wasted no time making an impact.
Hayes put together one of the best quarters of his career, erupting for 11 points on perfect shooting (5-for-5) in just seven minutes of first-quarter action. The 25-year-old even buried a rare three-pointer that swished cleanly through the net, electrifying the Lakers’ bench.
His previous first-quarter career high came back in March 2025 against the Phoenix Suns, when he scored eight points on 3-of-4 shooting while posting a +11 box score rating. On Sunday, he matched that same efficiency — this time against elite competition in Bam Adebayo.
Hayes’ scoring burst came in a flurry. He opened with a dunk to spark a 12-2 Lakers run, followed quickly by a putback layup. At the 6:36 mark, Luka Dončić found him for an alley-oop, his third straight bucket. Just 26 seconds later, Hayes buried a 28-foot three-pointer, and within half a minute, he finished another lob from Austin Reaves to cap his explosive start with 11 points in the first quarter.
Austin Reaves would also contribute a nasty alley-oop pass to Bronny James, drawing similar comparisons to LeBron James' dunking ability. Reaves has recorded four assists in the first quarter.
AUSTIN REAVES LOB TO BRONNY JAMES
🔥🔥🔥
pic.twitter.com/N1Zi7tPbeX
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 3, 2025
Playing time has been limited for Hayes this season — just three appearances while averaging 16.7 minutes per game. He saw extended action Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies after Ayton exited early with back spasms, finishing with two points, seven rebounds, and a block. But Sunday’s performance showed just how ready he is for a larger role.
With Ayton’s status still uncertain, this game could give Hayes the opportunity to return to the kind of workload he saw during the 2024–25 season, when he started 35 games after Los Angeles traded Anthony Davis. Sunday marked his first start of the year, and he’s already turned heads — including that of head coach JJ Redick.
Hayes’ career high stands at 23 points, set in 2022. If his performance against Miami is any indication, the athletic, high-energy big man could be on the verge of surpassing that mark — and redefining his role in the Lakers’ rotation.
More Lakers news: