Lakers Dominate Spurs as Reaves Shines and Doncic Falls Just Short of Triple-Double
The Los Angeles Lakers continued their strong home-court performance with a commanding 125-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs, extending their home winning streak to eight games. Austin Reaves stole the show, dropping 30 points while adding seven rebounds and six assists, proving once again that he can step up when the team needs him most.
On the other side, Luka Doncic came agonizingly close to a triple-double, finishing with 21 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds. However, it wasn’t his most efficient night, as he struggled from the field, hitting just 5 of his 20 attempts. Despite his shooting woes, his playmaking helped keep the Spurs in the game for stretches, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough against the Lakers' balanced attack.
Dorian Finney-Smith also played a crucial role for the Lakers, knocking down four three-pointers on his way to 15 points. The Lakers, still without LeBron James for the fifth straight game, relied on collective effort and sharp shooting to secure the victory. They shot 48.9% from the field and drained 19 three-pointers, showing their offensive depth even in LeBron’s absence.
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The game wasn’t without drama. With just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter, tensions flared when Jarred Vanderbilt and Jeremy Sochan got into a heated exchange. Sochan threw the ball at Vanderbilt following a foul, leading to Vanderbilt shoving him in the chest. The altercation resulted in both players being ejected.
Meanwhile, Lakers fans had a moment to celebrate when Bronny James checked into the game for the final 2:30. The crowd, already chanting his name, erupted when he nailed a three-pointer, marking a special moment in what could be the start of a promising career.
For the Spurs, rookie Stephon Castle impressed with 23 points, while Devin Vassell added 17, 15 of which came in the first half. However, the Spurs’ defense continued to be a problem, allowing the Lakers too many open shots and failing to contain their perimeter attack. With De’Aaron Fox sidelined for the season, San Antonio’s struggles on the defensive end have become more apparent.
A key turning point came in the third quarter when Reaves went on a personal scoring run, putting up nine points in just over three minutes. That spurt helped push the Lakers' lead to 28 points. Though the Spurs managed to counter with a 15-0 run of their own, they never got close enough to truly threaten a comeback.
With this win, the Lakers remain competitive in a grueling stretch of 20 games in five weeks. Reaves has been stepping up big time, scoring at least 28 points in four consecutive games—a feat he had only accomplished four times in the previous 63 games combined.
Looking ahead, the Spurs will try to bounce back as they host the New York Knicks on Wednesday, while the Lakers face a tough test against the Denver Nuggets in their next matchup.
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