No Luka Doncic, no problem for Lakers in blowout

The Lakers adopted the lead of their oldest member, the triple-double producing LeBron James, in dispatching the Wizards 120-101 at Crypto.com Arena on Monday night time.

Two days off between video games left James wanting spry, with lob dunks and dunks on the fast break contributing to his 21 factors, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. James was eight for 16 from the sphere in notching his third triple-double of the season and the a hundred and twenty fifth of his 23-year NBA profession, rating him fifth all time.

At 41 years and 90 days outdated, James once again grew to become the oldest participant in league historical past to report a triple-double, passing his earlier mark (41 years, 79 days).

For James and his teammates, Sunday’s apply had “value” because it allowed them to clean up some issues, do some “teaching” and get some “reps” that will repay with the playoffs approaching.

They put that into motion against the Wizards, but the Lakers did so without star guard Luka Doncic, who didn’t play after being given a one-game suspension by the NBA for his sixteenth technical foul.

Austin Reaves took over the primarily ballhandling duties with Doncic out, operating the show in delivering a close to double-double with 19 factors and 9 assists. Reaves was just 4 for 11 from the sphere and he missed all 4 of his three-point makes an attempt, but he was 11 for 12 from the road.

Backup middle Jaxson Hayes was excellent in scoring 19 factors on eight-for-eight taking pictures, including a three-pointer with six minutes and 41 seconds left.

Luke Kennard had 19 factors off the bench, knocking down 4 of 5 from three-point vary.

Deandre Ayton was a pressure for the Lakers, his environment friendly five-for-five taking pictures main to 12 factors, seven rebounds and three blocks.

Each of them performed their half to help the Lakers win for the twelfth time in 13 video games and restrict the impact of Doncic’s absence.

Doncic leads the NBA in scoring (33.7 factors per recreation), is fourth in assists (8.2), second three-pointers made (4.0) and first in factors scored in the first quarter (12.0).

He’ll return against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night time.

Although the Lakers gained handily, it was against a Wizards crew tied for the worst report in the NBA (17-58). Washington has misplaced 18 of its past 19 video games.

For the Lakers (49-26), the sport was about making strides from a apply they not often get to have.

“The value is being able to continue to improve,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the sport. “And again, I said this, we’ve placed a heavy emphasis on what we’re teaching in film and what we’re cleaning up in film, because we haven’t had court time to do that. So [Sunday], it was some of the game clean-up stuff. All the guys got some reps doing some things that they probably won’t do during a real game.”