Luka Doncic put on a first-quarter clinic, scoring 21 of his 31 points in the opening period as the Los Angeles Lakers dominated the injury-depleted Denver Nuggets 120-108 on Wednesday night. In just three quarters of action, Doncic added nine rebounds and seven assists, fueling the Lakers to a season-high 46-point first quarter.Â
With LeBron James and Rui Hachimura still sidelined, Austin Reaves stepped up with 22 points and eight assists, while Los Angeles thrived on balanced scoring with six players reaching double figures. The Lakers, who have now won nine straight at home and three in a row overall, led by as many as 28 points after three quarters, allowing Doncic to get some much-needed rest during their grueling five-game, seven-day stretch.Â
Denver, playing without Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray for the second straight game, leaned on Aaron Gordon’s 26 points but couldn’t keep pace as the Lakers shot 60% through three quarters. Doncic’s early explosion set the tone, as he erupted for nine points in less than three minutes and led an 18-2 run midway through the first.Â
The game also marked a milestone for the superstar guard, as he notched his 200th career 30-point performance—his eighth in just 16 games with Los Angeles. Let’s provide a rating for every Laker based on his play against the Nuggets on Wednesday night.
Luka Doncic: A
Stats: 31 PTS, 9 REB (0 OREB, 9 DREB), 7 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 6 TO, 3 PF, 10-21 FG, 4-9 3PT, 7-10 FT, +20, 32 MIN
Doncic wasted no time asserting his dominance, torching Denver’s defense for 21 first-quarter points and effectively putting the game out of reach early. His ability to orchestrate the offense while maintaining his usual scoring efficiency kept the Lakers rolling, though six turnovers were a slight downside. Nonetheless, his milestone 200th career 30-point game was the cherry on top of yet another stellar performance.
Austin Reaves: A
Stats: 22 PTS, 5 REB (0 OREB, 5 DREB), 8 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 8-16 FG, 2-7 3PT, 4-4 FT, +13, 36 MIN
Reaves seamlessly stepped into a bigger role with LeBron and Hachimura sidelined, delivering a well-rounded performance. His 22 points and eight assists highlighted his growing playmaking ability, and he contributed defensively with two steals and a block. His shooting wasn’t perfect, but his control of the game helped the Lakers keep their foot on the gas.
Dorian Finney-Smith: B
Stats: 14 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 5-7 FG, 3-4 3PT, 1-2 FT, +26, 30 MIN
Finney-Smith played his role to perfection, providing efficient scoring (5-for-7 from the field) and making timely three-pointers. Though not flashy, his steady presence on both ends of the floor helped the Lakers build and maintain their lead. His team-best +26 plus/minus reflected his impact.
Dalton Knecht: C+
Stats: 12 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 4-10 FG, 3-7 3PT, 1-2 FT, -6, 25 MIN
Knecht had a mixed night, showing flashes of offensive aggression but struggling with consistency. While he connected on three triples, his overall shooting (4-for-10) left something to be desired, and he didn’t contribute much outside of scoring. His defensive effort was solid, but he’ll need to be more efficient moving forward.
Gabe Vincent: C+
Stats: 12 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 4-6 FG, 4-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 23 MIN
Vincent made the most of his touches, scoring 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting—all from beyond the arc. Though he didn’t record any rebounds or defensive stats, his ability to stretch the floor was crucial in keeping Denver’s defense spread out. A quiet yet effective performance.
Jarred Vanderbilt: C+
Stats: 10 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PF, 4-6 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT, +6, 18 MIN
Vanderbilt’s impact came on the defensive end, where he recorded three steals and used his energy to disrupt Denver’s offense. Offensively, he was efficient around the rim, but three turnovers limited his overall effectiveness. His hustle remains invaluable, even if the stat sheet doesn’t always reflect it.
Jaxson Hayes: C+
Stats: 6 PTS, 7 REB (2 OREB, 5 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 3-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-2 FT, +11, 24 MIN
Hayes provided solid minutes in the paint, cleaning up the glass with seven rebounds and finishing efficiently inside. While he didn’t make a major offensive impact, his presence as a lob threat and rim protector helped the Lakers maintain their defensive intensity.
Jordan Goodwin: C+
Stats: 8 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 3 AST, 4 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 2-7 FG, 0-3 3PT, 4-4 FT, +1, 26 MIN
Goodwin’s defensive instincts were on full display, as he racked up four steals and disrupted passing lanes. However, his offensive game was lacking—shooting just 2-for-7 from the field and missing all three of his three-point attempts. Despite the shooting struggles, his defensive energy kept him on the floor.
Christian Koloko: C
Stats: 4 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -3, 14 MIN
Koloko had a quiet night, finishing with four points and four rebounds in limited minutes. He was efficient in his shot selection (2-for-2), but his lack of defensive presence and three fouls kept his impact minimal. A steady, if unspectacular, outing.
Shake Milton: N/A
Stats: 1 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-4 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-2 FT, -11, 7 MIN
Milton had a rough shooting night, going 0-for-4 from the field, and never found his rhythm in just seven minutes of play. While he managed to get on the scoreboard with a free throw, he struggled to make an impact on either end of the court.
Bronny James: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 4 MIN
Bronny logged just four minutes in garbage time and didn’t have a chance to contribute statistically. His presence on the court was more symbolic than impactful in this one.
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