The Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t overcome the absence of LeBron James, falling 111-108 to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night despite Luka Doncic’s triple-double. Doncic finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists but struggled with his shot, going just 8 of 26 from the field.
Austin Reaves added 17 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds but also had a tough shooting night at 3 for 14. Gabe Vincent led the Lakers with 24 points, and Dalton Knecht chipped in 19 as Los Angeles’ eight-game winning streak came to an end.
Playing without James, who strained his left groin in Saturday’s loss to Boston, the Lakers also missed Jaxson Hayes, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Rui Hachimura due to injuries, forcing coach JJ Redick to roll out an unfamiliar starting lineup.
Despite a late push, highlighted by Doncic’s deep three-pointer to cut the deficit to two with 10.6 seconds left, the Lakers couldn’t complete the comeback. Noah Clowney’s and-one dunk sealed the game for Brooklyn, snapping the Nets’ seven-game losing streak. Let’s provide a rating for every Laker for his performance on Monday night.
Luka Doncic: A-
Stats: 22 PTS, 12 REB (1 OREB, 11 DREB), 12 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 5 TO, 1 PF, 8-26 FG, 3-10 3PT, 3-4 FT, +3, 41 MIN
Doncic’s triple-double was the driving force behind the Lakers’ offense, as he posted 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. However, his shooting struggles were hard to overlook, finishing just 8-of-26 from the field and 3-of-10 from deep. While Doncic’s vision and playmaking kept Los Angeles within striking distance, his five turnovers and inefficiency in key moments were costly. Still, his clutch three-pointer late in the game underscored his ability to step up when it matters most.
Gabe Vincent: A-
Stats: 24 PTS, 0 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 8-12 FG, 6-9 3PT, 2-2 FT, -1, 34 MIN
Vincent was a revelation, leading the Lakers in scoring with 24 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting, including 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. His confidence and ability to create his own shot provided a much-needed scoring punch in LeBron’s absence. While his impact was mostly on offense, Vincent’s aggression and hot hand were pivotal in keeping the game close until the final buzzer.
Jordan Goodwin: B+
Stats: 17 PTS, 8 REB (1 OREB, 7 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 3 PF, 6-8 FG, 5-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, -3, 24 MIN
Goodwin delivered an impressive performance off the bench, tallying 17 points and eight rebounds while shooting 6-of-8 from the field. His ability to knock down 5-of-6 threes was a pleasant surprise, making him a reliable floor-spacer. Although he didn’t register an assist, his energy and rebounding were vital in helping the Lakers stay competitive.
Dalton Knecht: B
Stats: 19 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 8-18 FG, 3-9 3PT, 0-2 FT, +10, 41 MIN
Knecht’s 19 points provided a solid boost, but his efficiency left something to be desired, as he shot 8-of-18 overall and 3-of-9 from three. His +10 plus-minus was the highest on the team, highlighting his impact beyond scoring. Knecht’s willingness to take big shots was encouraging, but refining his shot selection could make him an even more valuable piece moving forward.
Austin Reaves: B
Stats: 17 PTS, 8 REB (2 OREB, 6 DREB), 10 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 3 PF, 3-14 FG, 1-5 3PT, 10-11 FT, -10, 36 MIN
Reaves flirted with a triple-double, recording 17 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds, but his shooting was ice-cold at 3-of-14. Despite the shooting woes, he was excellent at drawing fouls, converting 10-of-11 free throws. Reaves’ playmaking was a bright spot, but the Lakers could’ve used a more efficient scoring night from him in LeBron’s absence.
Jarred Vanderbilt: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 6 REB (1 OREB, 5 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 3-3 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -7, 27 MIN
Vanderbilt’s contributions were subtle but effective, scoring seven points without missing a shot (3-of-3) and grabbing six rebounds. His defensive activity, highlighted by a steal, was useful against a physical Brooklyn frontcourt. However, his limited offensive role and negative plus-minus showed that while he was solid, he didn’t quite move the needle for the Lakers.
Trey Jemison III: C-
Stats: 2 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 1-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +1, 18 MIN
Jemison struggled to find his footing in this one, scoring just two points with three rebounds in 18 minutes. While he did manage to block two shots, his four personal fouls and a single turnover hinted at some defensive lapses. His impact was minimal, and he’ll need to find ways to contribute more consistently in limited minutes.
Alex Len: D
Stats: 0 PTS, 2 REB (2 OREB, 0 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 13 MIN
Len’s night was one to forget, as he failed to score and logged just two rebounds and two assists in 13 minutes. His lone highlight was a blocked shot, but three personal fouls and a -4 plus-minus underscored his difficulties on both ends. With the Lakers shorthanded, Len’s inability to provide a stronger inside presence was a glaring issue.
Shake Milton: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 6 MIN
Milton saw just six minutes of action and didn’t attempt a shot, finishing with one assist and no other stats. His -4 plus-minus in such limited time suggests he wasn’t able to influence the game meaningfully. With the Lakers dealing with multiple injuries, Milton’s quiet performance was a missed opportunity to showcase his skill set.
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