The Los Angeles Lakers continued their strong push toward the NBA playoffs with a crucial 125-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. Austin Reaves led the way with 30 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Luka Doncic contributed 21 points, nine rebounds, and 14 assists in another impressive all-around performance.
However, it wasn't just the stars who stepped up. Two-way guard Jordan Goodwin, filling in for the injured LeBron James, chipped in 15 points, while Dorian Finney-Smith added 15, Gabe Vincent scored 11, and rookie wing Dalton Knecht finished with 13 points in another solid outing.
Knecht's recent run has been particularly noteworthy, especially after the dramatic trade saga that initially sent him to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams-a deal that was later rescinded, allowing him to return to the Lakers. Since rejoining the team, Knecht has thrived, averaging 14.3 points in nine games this month, including a standout 32-point performance against the Denver Nuggets on March 14 (via StatMuse)
His rapid development hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates, with Doncic offering high praise for the 24-year-old rookie.
"I mean, he had a great game," Doncic told reporters postgame. "He's had a lot of big games. He's learning how to play, I'm learning how to play with him, and he's a promising rookie for sure."
"He's a promising rookie for sure"
Luka on playing with Dalton pic.twitter.com/o89BEVnwst
— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) March 18, 2025
Selected 17th overall by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA draft, Knecht entered the league after an outstanding college career at Tennessee, where he earned SEC Player of the Year and Consensus First-Team All-American honors.
The rookie will look to maintain his strong form when the Lakers face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night in a matchup that could have significant playoff seeding implications.
Related: Luka Doncic Makes Lakers History in Spurs Game
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This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 5:47 PM.