Overview
- Luka Dončić posted a 38-point triple-double (10 rebounds, 10 assists) but received little help, with only Jake LaRavia (16) and Jaxson Hayes (10) also in double figures.
- LeBron James was held out with left foot joint arthritis and right sciatica as Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remained sidelined, while Gabe Vincent returned from a nine-game absence.
- San Antonio’s bench overwhelmed Los Angeles 53-22 and the Spurs outscored the Lakers 66-40 in the paint despite shooting 4-for-25 from three.
- An 11-4 third-quarter surge stretched the lead to 71-59, with Stephon Castle (15 points) and De’Aaron Fox (14) supporting Keldon Johnson’s 27 and Victor Wembanyama’s 16 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks off the bench.
- Tempers flared after the buzzer when Jarred Vanderbilt poked Jeremy Sochan before players were separated, as the Spurs moved to 26-11 (second in the West) and the Lakers fell to 23-12.