Luka Doncic Shines in Lakers' Narrow Victory Over Spurs
Luka Doncic scored 35 points as the Los Angeles Lakers edged the San Antonio Spurs 118–116 at home on Wednesday. His impressive stat line included 13 assists, nine rebounds, five steals, and two blocks, despite shooting just 33.3 percent from the field. This win improved the Lakers' record to 7-2.
Doncic’s performance marked a historic continuation of his strong season start, carrying much of the Lakers' offense in the absence of LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Fans lauded his crucial late-game three-pointer and his influence on both offense and defense.
Supporting Contributions and Team Performance
- Deandre Ayton contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds.
- Marcus Smart added 17 points.
- Bronny James scored two points and grabbed one rebound in five minutes.
- Seven Spurs players reached double figures, including all five starters.
Victor Wembanyama scored 19 points, with eight rebounds and three assists, as the Spurs fell to 5-2.
Game Highlights
At halftime, Doncic had scored 22 points to give the Lakers a narrow 60–59 lead. Wembanyama had seven points at the break for San Antonio.
The Spurs dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Lakers 37–28 to take a 96–88 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Down the stretch, Doncic hit a 25-foot step-back three-pointer to give the Lakers a 113–112 lead with just over 2:30 remaining.
In the closing seconds, Marcus Smart committed a turnover on an inbound play with just over one second left, giving the Spurs a final opportunity that fell short.
Author's Summary
Luka Doncic’s versatile and clutch performance propelled the Lakers to a close victory over the Spurs, underscoring his leadership in a team missing key players.