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
