The Los Angeles Lakers continued their dominance at home, extending their winning streak at Crypto.com Arena to eight games with a 125-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. Austin Reaves led the charge with 30 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, marking his fourth straight game with at least 28 points in LeBron James’ absence.
Luka Doncic struggled with his shot, going 5-for-20, but still impacted the game with 21 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds. Dorian Finney-Smith added 15 points and drained four three-pointers as the Lakers built a commanding 28-point lead in the third quarter. Though San Antonio responded with a 15-0 run, they never got the deficit back to single digits.
The night also featured some fireworks when Jarred Vanderbilt and Jeremy Sochan were both ejected after a heated exchange. In the closing minutes, the crowd erupted as Bronny James entered the game and nailed a three-pointer, capping off another strong team effort.
Despite missing James for a fifth straight game, the Lakers’ balanced scoring and resilience have kept them competitive during a grueling stretch of 20 games in five weeks. Let’s provide a rating for every Lakers player after his performance on Monday night.
Austin Reaves: A
Stats: 30 PTS, 7 REB (0 OREB, 7 DREB), 6 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 12-21 FG, 5-13 3PT, 1-1 FT, +18, 36 MIN
Reaves was once again the Lakers’ most consistent offensive weapon, pouring in 30 points while displaying his usual versatility. His ability to create his own shot, space the floor, and make plays for others kept the Spurs’ defense on its heels all night. He’s stepped up big in LeBron’s absence, and with four straight games of 28+ points, he’s proving to be more than just a complementary piece.
Luka Doncic: B
Stats: 21 PTS, 9 REB (2 OREB, 7 DREB), 14 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 1 PF, 5-20 FG, 1-7 3PT, 10-13 FT, +19, 34 MIN
Despite an uncharacteristically rough shooting night (5-for-20), Doncic still managed to leave his imprint on the game with his elite playmaking. His 14 assists set the tone for the Lakers’ ball movement, and he found ways to contribute with nine rebounds and three steals. While his jumper wasn’t falling, he stayed aggressive, getting to the line 13 times and knocking down 10 of them.
Jordan Goodwin: B
Stats: 15 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 3 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 6-9 FG, 3-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, +9, 33 MIN
Goodwin provided a spark off the bench, efficiently scoring 15 points while playing his trademark hard-nosed defense. His three steals and a block were crucial in disrupting San Antonio’s offense, and he showed confidence in his outside shot, hitting three of six from deep. He continues to make the most of his minutes, proving to be a valuable two-way contributor.
Dorian Finney-Smith: B-
Stats: 15 PTS, 3 REB (2 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 5-12 FG, 4-8 3PT, 1-2 FT, +13, 28 MIN
Finney-Smith had a solid but unspectacular night, scoring 15 points while connecting on four three-pointers. His spacing helped open driving lanes for Reaves and Doncic, though he wasn’t much of a factor elsewhere. Defensively, he held his own, but the Lakers will hope for more rebounding and playmaking from him moving forward.
Gabe Vincent: B-
Stats: 11 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 4-6 FG, 3-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, +9, 28 MIN
Vincent quietly had an effective outing, providing 11 points on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting. His three-point shooting gave the Lakers a nice boost, and he also came up with a pair of steals on defense. While his overall impact was subtle, he made winning plays and avoided costly mistakes.
Jaxson Hayes: B-
Stats: 9 PTS, 11 REB (2 OREB, 9 DREB), 3 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 3-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 3-4 FT, +21, 28 MIN
Hayes made his presence felt on the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds while also contributing on both ends of the floor. He was active defensively with a steal and a block, showing his mobility and energy. His offensive contributions were modest, but his efficiency (3-of-5 from the field) and hustle were exactly what the Lakers needed.
Dalton Knecht: C+
Stats: 13 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 4-10 FG, 2-7 3PT, 3-4 FT, -5, 20 MIN
Knecht had an up-and-down night, finishing with 13 points but struggling with his efficiency (4-for-10 FG, 2-for-7 3PT). He showed flashes of his scoring ability, but he still needs to find consistency in his shot selection. Defensively, he wasn’t a liability, but he didn’t make a significant impact either.
Jarred Vanderbilt: C
Stats: 2 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -2, 15 MIN
Vanderbilt had a brief and uneventful game before his ejection, finishing with just two points and a single rebound. His trademark hustle was on display, but his role was limited. The fiery exchange with Sochan may have overshadowed his actual performance, but his toughness and edge remain valuable assets to this team.
Christian Koloko: N/A
Stats: 4 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 9 MIN
Koloko saw limited action, but he made the most of it by converting both of his shot attempts and grabbing a couple of rebounds. His role was minimal, but he provided some decent minutes in a blowout.
Shake Milton: N/A
Stats: 2 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 7 MIN
Milton got a short run in garbage time and made his only shot attempt. It wasn’t enough of a sample size to evaluate, but it was nice to see him get on the floor.
Bronny James: N/A
Stats: 3 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-2 FG, 1-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, -2, 3 MIN
Bronny’s moment in the game came in the final minutes when he drained a three-pointer to the delight of the home crowd. Though he didn’t play long, the excitement around his appearance was a fun way to cap off the night.
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