Luka Doncic was suspended for one game due to accumulating technical fouls. As a result, he sat out while the Lakers took on the Wizards on Monday night. Interestingly, the Lakers didn’t appear to miss him much against a struggling team.
The Lakers secured a solid 120-101 victory at Crypto.com Arena, marking their 15th win in the last 17 games. LeBron James was a standout, achieving a triple-double with 21 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, which made him the oldest player in history to record such a feat.
Austin Reaves handled the ball more but had an off night shooting (4-of-11 overall and 0-of-4 from three). Nonetheless, he contributed significantly with 19 points and nine assists in 27 minutes. Other contributors included Luke Kennard (19 points), Jackson Hayes (19 points, seven rebounds, two blocks), Rui Hachimura (14 points, six rebounds), and Deandre Ayton (12 points on perfect shooting, with seven rebounds and three blocks).
The Lakers found their rhythm, shooting an impressive 55.7% from the field. Still, it’s worth noting that the Wizards are currently tied for the worst record in the league.
What It Means
With this win, the Lakers improved to 49-26, although their playoff spot is still not secure, especially with the Suns also clinching a win against the Grizzlies.
Turning Point
There were a couple of key moments in the game. One was Jackson Hayes’ dunk early in the second quarter, which energized the team and initiated a dominating sequence for the Lakers. The second came late in the third when LeBron passed to his son, Bronny, who effectively swung the ball to Kennard for a crucial three-pointer. This helped the Lakers maintain their lead despite the Wizards’ attempts to mount a comeback.
MVP: Jackson Hayes
Choosing a backup center as MVP isn’t common, but Hayes stood out by injecting much-needed energy into the game. He went an admirable 8-of-8 shooting from the field and celebrated his third three-pointer of the season in the fourth quarter.
Game Stats: 1,228
This latest victory ties LeBron James with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most regular-season and playoff wins in NBA history. He achieved his 1,044th regular-season win, just 30 shy of breaking Abdul-Jabbar’s record.
Some might argue that if playoff wins are counted, including those from play-in tournaments, LeBron may have already surpassed Abdul-Jabbar.
To The Next
The Lakers are set to face the Cavaliers on Tuesday, looking to extend their winning streak. The Cavaliers, fresh off a victory against the Jazz, will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
