Lakers’ JJ Redick explains how rookie Dalton Knecht pushed the team to a comeback win

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick credited rookie Dalton Knecht with sparking the team’s comeback in their 128-123 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.

“He was the catalyst for our comeback…that was the energy he brought,” Redick said. “He was huge. It got the crowd into it. Our bench into it and brought us back to life.”

Knecht scored a career-high 19 points, including five three-pointers. Knecht was 7-of-8 shooting and didn’t miss from the three-point line.

Coming off the bench, Knecht made the most of his 20 minutes on the floor. One of the rookie’s best plays was an alley-oop for a Christian Koloko dunk that tied the game at 96.

“I don’t remember much other than I caught the ball and I saw Koloko running and then I just threw the ball up for a lob and he dunked it,” Knecht said after the game. “It was good to see that. And see the energy in the Crypto.com Arena.”

LeBron James earned his third straight triple-double headlined the game; However, Knecht’s performance was a big moment for the rookie. But even James credited Knecht with sparking a resurgence in the offense.

“We leaned on Dalton Knecht; that’s what we did,” James said. “AD got into foul trouble and our first-round pick hit a hot streak. He looked like he was back in Tennessee, so we leaned on him. I just tried to sprinkle in a few plays here and there. “

Anthony Davis also spoke highly of Knecht’s performance off the bench. The Lakers have only played 11 games this season, but it’s clear that Knecht was a steal in the draft.

“He stepped up,” Davis said. “His ability to shoot the basketball drove us, especially in the third quarter. Big shots. Big time shots. We kind of got on him last game about passing, slowing down shots. He’s too good of a shooter not to shoot the basketball. He made some big shots for us tonight.”

Knecht certainly argued for more possibilities in the future. The 23-year-old has a bright future in Los Angeles, which is exactly what the Lakers thought when they drafted him.

Knecht had the best game of his career Wednesday night, and that’s just the beginning. He is the type of shooter the Lakers have always needed. Knecht could serve as the solution to the Lakers’ three-point struggles if he continues this trend.

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