The Lakers found themselves in a favorable position as Luka Doncic sat out due to a suspension from technical fouls in a previous game. However, the team still needed an impressive performance to secure a 127-111 victory over the Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena.
Doncic’s absence was felt, yet the Lakers managed to keep pace. The game featured a strong start from the Cavaliers, but Doncic’s teammate stepped up. The Lakers trailed by only two points at the end of the first quarter, largely thanks to the 27-year-old guard, who racked up 14 points and four assists early on.
Ultimately, Doncic led the team with a remarkable double-double, scoring 42 points and delivering 12 assists in just 34 minutes. He continued his impressive career-high stretch, marking his 13th consecutive game with 30 or more points.
The Lakers dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Cavaliers 78-49, which set them up with a considerable lead of 110-83 heading into the final period.
The contest became a bit more balanced as all Cavaliers players, who had been largely sitting on the bench, showed up for their fourth start. Austin Reeves contributed 19 points, along with six rebounds and four assists, while Deandre Ayton added 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds, including six offensive boards.
LeBron James also made his mark, finishing with 14 points, six assists, and five rebounds, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in total wins, increasing his tally to 1,229 in both regular and playoff games.
Jake LaRabia and Rui Hachimura chipped in with 14 and 12 points, respectively, with Hachimura also hitting a milestone by surpassing 5,000 career points.
What It Means
Before taking down the Cavaliers, the Lakers had already clinched a playoff spot, aided by the Suns’ loss to the Magic. This win also marked their 50th of the season.
With a record of 15-2 in March, they have now won 16 out of their last 18 outings.
Turning Point
A key moment came 7:43 into the third quarter when Reeves connected on an alley-oop to James. By then, the Lakers had a comfortable lead of 78-63, and they capitalized on that momentum, outscoring the Cavaliers 30-20 in the third quarter.
MVP: Luka Doncic
With his 42nd point on the night, Doncic hit the milestone of 600 points in March. He now stands as the second player in NBA history to achieve this in March, following Michael Jordan’s feat in 1987, and he’s among just ten players to score 600 points in a single month.
Game Status: 15,000
Moreover, Doncic crossed the 15,000 career points mark during the game, becoming the third-youngest player ever to do so. Only LeBron James and Kevin Durant achieved this at a younger age.
To The Next
The Lakers are set to hit the road next, facing off against the defending NBA champion Thunder on Thursday. They will wrap up their trip on Sunday against the Mavericks.
