NBA: Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles LakersMar 16, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shield Luka Doncic (77) is defended via way of means of Phoenix Suns ahead Cody Martin (17) withinside the 2d 1/2 of at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
With a four-sport dropping streak at the back of them, the Los Angeles Lakers will maintain searching out a course ahead after they play host to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.
Dealing with damage issues, the Lakers (41-25) earned a 107-ninety six domestic victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. Luka Doncic had 33 points, eleven rebounds and 8 assists, whilst Austin Reaves chipped in 28 points.
“I’m getting there (physically) and each day I’m feeling better,” stated Doncic, who became out from Dec. 27 till Feb. 10 with a calf damage and arrived to the Lakers whilst nevertheless recovering. “Physically, I had my knee hyperextended, my ankle (injured) again, however I’m good.”
The Lakers have been with out LeBron James (groin) for the fourth consecutive sport, and beginning ahead Rui Hachimura (knee) ignored his 9th consecutive sport. Both are taken into consideration day-to-day.
Jaxson Hayes, who took over the middle spot while Anthony Davis turned into traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Doncic, back from a four-sport absence due to a knee contusion damage to attain 19 factors with six rebounds towards the Suns.
“Just his energy, his effort, his presence withinside the pocket, a lob threat, offers Luka (space),” Reaves stated of Hayes postgame. “… It turned into precise to look him back.”
The Lakers have a touch much less than a month to get absolutely wholesome earlier of a capability playoff run, and the better the playoff seed, the better. Heading into the second one sport of a five-sport homestand, Los Angeles is in 5th location withinside the Western Conference, however simply 2 half of video games above the play-in-event line.
The Spurs (28-38) recognize all approximately injuries, having misplaced each big name middle Victor Wembanyama (blood clot) and new arrival De’Aaron Fox (finger surgery) for the season. Head train Gregg Popovich has ignored maximum of the season following a stroke.
San Antonio has performed two times because Fox turned into close down. On Friday, it allowed a hundred forty five factors in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets earlier than rebounding for a 119-a hundred and fifteen victory at domestic in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.
Devin Vassell scored 22 factors for San Antonio on Saturday, even as Keldon Johnson scored 19 off the bench. On 6-of-17 capturing, Vassell went four of nine from 3-factor variety with 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
“It’s now no longer a incredible night time capturing the basketball however simply being capable of have an effect on the sport in different ways, whether or not it is rebounding, whether or not it is steals, whether or not it is simply being encouraging as a teammate, regardless of the case might also additionally be, I’ve attempted to have that function and deliver that over to each recreation,” Vassell said.
In a signal of ways the Spurs are looking for their manner with out a couple of stars, 4 in their seven double-digit scorers in opposition to the Pelicans got here off the bench.
Rookie defend Stephon Castle, who commenced the beyond video games with Fox out, scored 17 factors and had seven assists however went zero of five from 3-factor variety.
Monday’s recreation firstly turned into scheduled for Jan.
