The [Los Angeles Lakers](https://lakersdaily.com/) are riding a four-game winning streak (tied for the second-longest active winning streak in the league), but that streak will be at stake when they take on the [San Antonio Spurs](https://ahnfiredigital.com/category/nba/san-antonio-spurs/) on Wednesday night.
Headed by Victor Wembanyama — who has been maybe the most dominant two-way player in the league this season — San Antonio is one of only two teams in the West with a better record than Los Angeles.
Even if the Lakers were at full strength, the Spurs would make for an intimidating opponent, but they’ll also just so happen to be without two of their three top talents for the matchup. LeBron James has yet to make his season debut due to sciatica, and Austin Reaves will sit out for a second game in a row with right groin soreness.
Still, a win should be available to the Purple and Gold if the game plays out a certain way. Let’s break down three keys to the Lakers extending their winning streak to five and handing the Spurs just their second loss of the campaign in the process.
Key #1: A whole lot of Luka Magic
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While Reaves and James will be sidelined, Luka Doncic will be good to go for Wednesday’s game. He’s been limited to just four games played this season, but the work he put in on his body in the summer has seemingly paid off, as he appears to be taking his game to new heights. To have a great chance of winning, the Lakers need the new and improved version of the Slovenian to show up like he has many times already this season.
First off, Doncic has been a scoring machine thus far in his first full season as a Laker. He’s scored 40-plus points in all but one of his appearances, and in the one game where he didn’t hit 40, he still finished with a 29-point triple-double. If he continues to score the ball at the level he’s been and reaches his season average of 41.3 points per contest against San Antonio, the Lakers will be in a prime position to grab a win.
But Los Angeles needs more than just scoring from Doncic on the offensive end, and fortunately, he’s also an all-world playmaker. It’s important that he sets up his teammates for easy baskets with two of the team’s best bucket-getters on the shelf, and a goal of his should be to rack up a new season-high in assists. He hasn’t dished out more than 10 in a game just yet, but maybe that’s about to change.
Key #2: A new day, a new Big 3
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The Lakers have had to navigate some availability woes to key players at times in the early portion of this season, but that hasn’t stopped them from playing hard in every game. No matter who’s on the floor, it feels like a new Big 3 steps up each night for L.A. Of course, Doncic has to be part of that Big 3 on Wednesday, but the other two members are less obvious. Who will they be?
Marcus Smart is one person who will need to be ready, even if his impact comes on the defensive end. The Lakers need him to channel his Defensive Player of the Year capabilities against the Spurs and Stephon Castle and keep him under wraps.
The reigning Rookie of the Year is averaging 20.0 points per game in his sophomore campaign and can put up points in bunches. A huge scoring game from Castle might spell an end to the Lakers’ winning streak with how undermanned they are.
But on the other hand, if Smart keeps Castle to 15 points or fewer and makes some open 3s and nice passes on the offensive end, that could be enough for him to be one of the standout players of the game for Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, Deandre Ayton needs to hold his own in his matchup against one of the great centers and players in the league and total a double-double with some scoring punch.
It’s imperative that he makes Wembanyama work defensively by being aggressive looking for his own shot. Of course, he will also need to do his part on the defensive end. Ayton’s reputation isn’t squeaky clean when it comes to his effort on the floor, but there’s no room for him to take any plays off against someone like Wembanyama.
Key #3: No easy minutes for Wemby
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Wembanyama has been absolutely key to the Spurs’ strong start to the season. He’s been a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the floor, and while Ayton will likely spend a lot of time guarding him on defense, it will take a team-wide effort to slow him down.
There’s no stopping him, but making a dent is a must. The Lakers can implement plans on both ends of the floor in order to contain the Frenchman’s impact.
While on offense, it would be wise for the Lakers to shoot a whole lot of perimeter jumpers on Wednesday. Wembanyama is averaging a league-high 4.7 blocks per game this season, and it’s just not in the team’s best interest to attack the painted area that often with him down low. Hopefully, the Lakers will have it going from 3-point range on Wednesday.
Then on defense for the Purple and Gold, Wembanyama probably should be seeing two Lakers every time the ball is in his hands. It would be a sensible strategy for the Lakers to make anyone not named Wembanyama beat them from a scoring standpoint.
So long as the Lakers get a big game from Doncic, a strong showing from some supporting members and force a less-than-ridiculous game from Wembanyama, fans will be celebrating the team’s fifth consecutive victory.