Austin Reaves Scores 30 as Lakers Defeat Spurs 125-109
LOS ANGELES – Austin Reaves delivered a stellar 30-point performance, while Luka Dončić contributed 21 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 125-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.
Dorian Finney-Smith added 15 points, knocking down four 3-pointers, as the Lakers extended their home winning streak to eight games. The win follows back-to-back victories over Phoenix and San Antonio after enduring four consecutive road losses.
Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 23 points, while Devin Vassell scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half. San Antonio has now lost five of its last seven games.
Despite Dončić struggling with a 5-for-20 shooting night, Reaves shined, draining five 3-pointers while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out six assists. The game was originally scheduled for January 11 but was postponed due to the Southern California wildfires.
A heated moment occurred late in the fourth quarter when Jarred Vanderbilt shoved Jeremy Sochan after Sochan threw the ball at him following a foul with 6:27 left. Both players were ejected.
Bronny James saw action in the final 2:30 and electrified the crowd by sinking a 3-pointer, earning a standing ovation from Lakers fans who had been chanting his name earlier in the game.
Game Takeaways
Spurs: Defensive struggles continued, marking their third straight game without De’Aaron Fox. The Lakers capitalized by shooting 48.9% from the field, including 19 made 3-pointers.
Lakers: Despite LeBron James missing his fifth straight game, balanced scoring has kept the team competitive through a grueling stretch of 20 games in five weeks.
Reaves scored nine points in a three-and-a-half-minute span as the Lakers built a 28-point third-quarter lead. San Antonio responded with a 15-0 run but never closed the gap to single digits.
Key Stat
With James sidelined, Reaves has scored at least 28 points in four consecutive games, after reaching that mark just four times in the Lakers’ first 63 games this season.
Up Next
The Spurs host the Knicks on Wednesday, while the Lakers take on the Nuggets at home.