Luke Kennard delivered the biggest moment of the Los Angeles Lakers’ night on March 21, hitting a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left to seal a 105-104 win over the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center.
The shot capped a tense finish and pushed the Lakers to their ninth straight victory. With the team struggling from deep for most of the game, Kennard’s late heroics quickly sparked reactions across the NBA world.
NBA World Reacts to Luke Kennard’s Clutch Game-Winner Against the Magic
The Lakers’ win over the Magic did not come easily, but the final sequence turned it into one of the wildest finishes of the night.
Down two points in the closing seconds, Marcus Smart inbounded the ball to Kennard, who wasted no time getting his shot off over the defense. The 3-pointer dropped with 0.6 seconds remaining, flipping a 104-102 deficit into a 105-104 win.
The moment immediately lit up social media, with notable NBA personalities, including Magic Johnson, weighing in on Kennard’s buzzer-beater.
The Field of 68 co-host Zion O. celebrated the shot with much enthusiasm, posting, “Yeaa Luke! @LukeKennard5,” as the Lakers stole the win in dramatic fashion.
Yeaa Luke! @LukeKennard5 https://t.co/087O66PAJN pic.twitter.com/Znki6gHcMx
— Zion O. (@DukeNBA) March 22, 2026
The NBA official X handle spotlighted the entire sequence, writing: “DOWN 2. 2.6 TO PLAY. SMART TO KENNARD. NOTHING BUT NET. WHAT A CLUTCH SHOT BY LUKE KENNARD!”
DOWN 2.
2.6 TO PLAY.
SMART TO KENNARD.
NOTHING BUT NET.WHAT A CLUTCH SHOT BY LUKE KENNARD! https://t.co/z8MtR5S7hh pic.twitter.com/NHwvJHWYDz
— NBA (@NBA) March 22, 2026
SportsCenter highlighted both the shot and the reaction on the bench, with LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and teammates erupting as Kennard was mobbed: “LUKE KENNARD GAME-WINNER IN ORLANDO 😱 BRON, LUKA & THE CREW LOVING IT. 9-STRAIGHT WINS FOR THE LAKERS.”
LUKE KENNARD GAME-WINNER IN ORLANDO 😱
BRON, LUKA & THE CREW LOVING IT. 9-STRAIGHT WINS FOR THE LAKERS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QXDzgWzUg9
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 22, 2026
The NBA on ESPN X handle also focused on the celebration from the team after Kennard’s dagger, writing, “The Lakers were so hyped for Luke Kennard after the game-winner.”
Adam Koffler described the finish as one of the best he had seen, posting, “Insane ending in Orlando, probably the best regular season Magic game I’ve been to.”
Insane ending in Orlando, probably the best regular season Magic game I’ve been to https://t.co/JGZy2f2nKT
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) March 22, 2026
Courtside Club podcaster Rachel A DeMita highlighted the Lakers’ late-season push with nine straight wins, writing, “Lakers on an insaneeee heater lately wow”
Lakers on an insaneeee heater lately wow
— Rachel A DeMita (@RADeMita) March 22, 2026
NBA legend Magic Johnson perfectly summed up the sequence, capturing the emotional swing in the final seconds, writing, “Wow Wow WOW! With the Lakers down 2 points and 2 seconds left in the game, Luke Kennard hit a three pointer to seal the win over the Orlando Magic 105-104. This extends their winning streak to 9!”
Inside the locker room, the confidence in Kennard was not surprising. LeBron James weighed in on Kennard’s heroics in his postgame interview, “When I turned and saw who had the ball, I pretty much knew it was cash.”
That trust stood out even more considering how the Lakers had struggled from beyond the arc for most of the game, shooting just 22.6% from 3-point range before Kennard’s attempt.
For most of the game, the Lakers leaned on their star trio of LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves. The trio combined for 71 points, carrying the offense through long stretches. James also reached a major milestone, appearing in his 1,612th regular-season game to set an NBA record.
Still, the final moment belonged to guard Kennard, who finished with 13 points in 20 minutes, along with three rebounds, with 71.4% field-goal and 75% 3-point efficiency.
Known for his shooting ability and off-ball movement, Kennard has quietly been one of the most reliable perimeter threats in the league. That reputation showed in the closing seconds against the Magic. On a night when the Lakers could not consistently convert from deep, the ball found the one player built for that exact moment.
The win improved the Lakers to 46 wins on the season and extended their streak to nine straight, strengthening their position as the playoffs approach. For the Magic, the loss marked their fourth in a row and came in particularly painful fashion after leading late.
In a lineup filled with the star power of James, Dončić, and Reaves, it is not often someone else takes over the final play. Kennard did, and he needed just one shot to do it.
