Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic step up in LeBron’s absence

Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers continued their push in the Western Conference standings with a commanding 125-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena on Monday night.

Despite an off-shooting night, Dončić nearly posted a triple-double, finishing with 21 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds.

The Lakers, still without LeBron James due to a groin strain, secured their second consecutive win since his absence.

“It wasn’t my best night offensively, but we stayed locked in as a team and got the job done,” Dončić said postgame.

Austin Reaves Steps Up

While Dončić struggled from the field, shooting just 5-of-20, Austin Reaves took over.

The guard exploded for 30 points, including a highlight step-back jumper that had James celebrating from the sidelines.

Jordan Goodwin and Dorian Finney-Smith added 15 points each, providing key contributions for a Lakers squad fighting for playoff positioning.

Spurs Struggles Continue

San Antonio, missing key players, failed to keep up. Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Devin Vassell chipped in 17. Jeremy Sochan contributed 15 points off the bench.

The absence of star rookie Victor Wembanyama, who was ruled out for the season with a blood clot in his right shoulder, has derailed San Antonio’s campaign.

De’Aaron Fox, acquired at the trade deadline, has also been shut down for the season due to a finger injury. The Spurs have now lost 11 of their last 16 games, falling to 28-39 and virtually out of the playoff race.

Playoff Implications for the Lakers

The win moves Los Angeles to 42-25, just a game behind the second-seeded Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets with 15 regular-season games remaining.

The Lakers host the Nuggets next on Wednesday in a crucial matchup, with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray possibly returning after sitting out Denver’s Monday night win over Golden State.

With Oklahoma City leading the conference, the battle for the No. 2 seed remains wide open. However, a poor finish could see the Lakers drop as low as the fifth or sixth seed, significantly altering their postseason path.