By HoopsHype | March 18, 2025
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet 🇸🇮 Luka Doncic pushes the Lakers to a win and previews upcoming clash with Nikola Jokic “With him on the court, there’s always danger and it’s hard to play against him. He knows all the tricks” ➕ Nuggets beat Warriors without Jokic
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/17… – 3:06 AM
Austin Reaves on the Lakers hosting the Nuggets on Wednesday: “Obviously they’ve kicked our as the last couple postseasons and we want to return the favor, but you want to beat everybody you play” pic.x.com/yrGsICiX91 – 2:21 AM
Khobi Price @khobi_price Final: Lakers 125, Spurs 109. Austin Reaves: 30p/7r/6a. Luka Doncic: 21p/14a/9r. Jordan Goodwin and Dorian Finney-Smith: 15 points apiece. Dalton Knecht (13) and Gabe Vincent (11) combined for 24 points off the bench. LAL moves to 42-25.
Next up: Wednesday vs. Denver. – 12:51 AM
The Lakers beat the Spurs, 125-109, to improve to 42-25. As JJ Redick pointed out before the game, the victory guarantees L.A. a winning record for the regular season. Reaves 30p 7r 6a 2s; Luka 21 14a 9r 3s; Goodwin 15p 3a 3s; DFS 15p; Knecht 13p; Vincent 11p; Hayes 9p 11r 2s. – 12:50 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter Bronny drilled a triple to push LA’s lead to 125-107 in the final minute, LA’s 19th made 3 of the evening.
Reaves had 5, DFS 4, Goodwin and Vincent 3, Knecht 2 and Doncic and Bronny 1. – 12:48 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter Austin Reaves snapped a big Spurs run with a layup, and then a 3, to reach 28 points on 11 of 18 FG’s.
LA’s lead is 99-81 with 10 minutes to go. – 12:24 AM
Paul Garcia @PaulGarciaNBA 3Q: Lakers by 19 after leading by 28. LAL wins the 3Q 29-24. Vassell 17 pts Sochan 15 pts Reaves 23 pts Luka 17 pts Goodwin 13 pts Knecht 10 pts DFS 10 pts 2s: Tied 3s: Lakers by 12
FTs: Lakers by 7 – 12:17 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter After the Lakers took their biggest lead of 28, the Spurs did manage to score the final 9 points of the 3rd period, to make it a 94-75 margin with 12 minutes to play.
Doncic has 17 points, 12 assists and 9 boards, and Reaves 23, 4 and 5. – 12:16 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter The Lakers have committed only 3 turnovers with 3:00 left in the 3rd Q.
Their lead is 91-66 after the 14th triple from LA, Gabe Vincent’s 2nd, on the 11th Doncic assist. – 12:12 AM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
After Keldon Johnson shaded too far off Austin Reaves to soft-double Luka (leading to an open Reaves 3), Stu Lantz noted how the Spurs aren’t recognizing how Luka’s having an off-night shooting. Or, they know and it just doesn’t matter. That’s the power of a player like Luka. AK – 12:12 AM
Lakers starters vs. Phoenix: Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Jordan Goodwin, Dorian Finney-Smith and Jaxson Hayes. – 3:04 PM
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer called Austin Reaves one of the more underrated players in the NBA, detailing his combination of “skill and force,” and “high-energy motor with a lot of skill.” – 2:10 PM
More on this storyline
After the win over the Suns, Austin Reaves spoke about Jordan Goodwin’s journey to this point and how he believes the 26-year-old deserves a standard NBA deal. “Yeah, I mean it’s not conventional. He’s been on a standard contract, and he’s been on a two-way [contract]. Back and forth, the G League and then us,” Reaves said. “Then a couple people got hurt, and then [he] got the opportunity to get out there and show what he can do. I told him, I think it was that first game that we played Indiana, he had a hell of a game, and I just told him, ‘I don’t know how out of 30 teams you’re not on a regular contract.’ [It’s] the way that he can affect the game without having the ball in his hands. I bet you anybody that’s played with him enjoy it because he does all the things that are right. Big shout out to him. He’s been a huge factor for us.” -via Lakers Nation / March 18, 2025
