Lakers coast past Spurs in third straight win.
The Lakers coasted past the Spurs for their third straight win from start to finish, beating San Antonio 123–92 to move their season record to 5–10.
In their most complete win of the season, the Lakers had seven players score in double figures, with the team shooting 53% (45-for-85) from the floor on their aggressive scoring inside, finishing with 60 points in the paint.
“Getting Dennis [Shröder] and Thomas [Bryant] back was a huge shot in the arm in the mist of LeBron not being available," said Darvin Ham. “Those guys are stepping up. AD is playing out of his mind, he’s in a great rhythm.”
LeBron James sat out his fourth straight game in the Lakers’ matchup against the Spurs, as he’s still dealing with a left adductor strain.
With the Spurs being without center Jakob Poeltl, Anthony Davis had to take advantage of San Antonio’s second-unit big man, which he did with ease, scoring over 30 points and grabbing over 15-plus rebounds for the third straight game.
“No matter who is on the floor, for us or for them, I just want to continue to have the mindset of dominating on both sides of the ball,” said Davis.
Davis finished with a game-high 30 points on 63% (12-for-19) shooting from the floor, adding 18 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block in 28 minutes.
Since being added to the starting lineup, Austin Reaves has been one of the best players outside the Lakers trio, playing high-level basketball in scoring and on the defensive end.
“The thing I think he’s growing the most is just playmaking, said Davis about Reaves. “He’s making the right reads, he’s getting in the paint. Using a shot fake,” Davis added. “He’s definitely taken a big step from last year to this year, and he’s going to be a hell of a player.”
Reaves finished with a season-high 21 points on 3-for-4 (75%) shooting from three and 7-for-11 (63%) overall, demonstrating his high efficiency on offense.
After the game, coach Darvin Ham was asked about the possibility that Reaves could remain a starter, saying: “We’ll see.”
Austin Reaves’ scoring in the past four games (started all four):
Vs. Spurs: 21 PTS, (63.6 FG%)
Vs. Pistons: 16 PTS (62.5 FG%)
Vs. Nets: 15 PTS (62.5 FG%)
Vs. Kings: 19 PTS (58.3 FG%)
Russell Westbrook has brought great “balance” to the Lakers' rotation, as coach Ham described it. He’s bringing an energy that has turned the Lakers' second unit into one of the NBA’s best, making players around him better.
“I know my abilities to make guys better around me,” said Westbrook.
Westbrook finished with a double-double of 10 points and 10 assists, shooting 2-for-5 (40%) from behind the arc and 4-for-9 (44%) from the floor in 21 minutes.
In their second game back from a 13-game absence, the Lakers bench received a lift from Dennis Schröder and Thomas Bryant.
Bryant finished with 15 points and 9 rebounds in 23 minutes, while Schröder finished with 13 points, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds in 16 minutes.
The Lakers’ next matchup is on the road this Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns at 6:30 PM on TNT.
