For as good as Luka Dončić has been to start this season, it hasn't really felt like he's been carrying the Lakers along. He's been great on top of other players being good as well, leading more often than not to wins.
However, on Wednes…
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[whistle]
Damn. I was just called for a foul. Fitting for that game.
Anyway, Wednesday was the exception. The Lakers were mostly lethargic and flat to open the game, Luka included. Then, he exploded in the second quarter and really pulled the Lakers along. Austin Reaves was great alongside him as well, but the teams had little else.
At least they were solid enough defensively to make up for that. And they were playing Kings.
So, let's dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A "B" grade represents the average performance for that player.
Matisse Thybulle
23 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1-5 FG, 1-5 3PT, -4
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A quiet game offensively from Thybulle. He was overdue for one, so nothing to really worry about.
Grade: C
Jake LaRavia
20 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 4 fouls, 1 turnover, 3-3 FG, 2-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, +3
When he wasn't fouling, LaRavia was one of the best Lakers on the floor. Unfortunately, he was fouling a lot in the first half, which forced him to the bench. But he was foul free in the second half and his impact was felt.
Grade: B+
Walker Kessler
28 minutes, 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 4 blocks, 6 fouls, 6-8 FG, 3-4 FT, -1
By his own admission, Kessler wasn't very good for the first three quarters. Domantas Sabonis had 10 points and 14 rebounds to Kessler's five points and three rebounds.
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In the fourth quarter, that completely flipped. Kessler had 10 points, five rebounds and four blocks and Sabonis only had six points and three rebounds.
Grade: B+
Austin Reaves
37 minutes, 21 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 7-15 FG, 1-4 3PT, 6-6 FT, +14
This is a quiet great game from Reaves, who is willing and able to take that Robin role to Luka's Batman. The most impressive part of his game though isn't listed in that box score…because he had zero turnovers!
Grade: A
Luka Dončić
35 minutes, 40 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 foul, 6 turnovers, 11-23 FG, 6-13 3PT, 12-13 FT, +11
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The level of shotmaking from Luka right now is up there with the best the league has ever seen. Some of these shots are just unfathomable and, yet, when they go up, you always believe they'll go in.
Grade: A+
Quentin Grimes
24 minutes, 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 2-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 2-2 FT, +19
A bit of a step back for Grimes after an encouraging game against the Heat. Considering how much the Lakers paid him, it'd be nice if he found his groove soon.
Grade: C
Sandro Mamukelashvili
18 minutes, 2 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 0-4 FG, 0-3 3PT, 2-2 FT, +17
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This was a pretty poor Mamu game. Missing back-to-back threes from the top of the key early in the game turned out to be an omen.
Grade: D
Ziaire Williams
22 minutes, 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 4 fouls, 3-7 FG, 1-4 3PT, 3-3 FT, +12
The good news for the Lakers is that when a wing has a poor game as Thybulle did or LaRavia is in foul trouble, they have another one to step in and play well, which Ziaire did.
Grade: B+
Collin Sexton
16 minutes, 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 4 fouls, 2 turnovers, 2-7 FG, 1-3 3PT, 5-6 FT, +2
Another sort of deceptive game as it looks
like Sexton was good but it didn't feel
that way while watching. Perhaps I'm in the minority because that's a good stat line.
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Grade: B-
Jarred Vanderbilt, Cameron Carr, Jaden Hardy, Bronny James, Lawson Lovering, Kevon Looney
Everyone but Vando played only in garbage time. Again, Vando was in for only one shift in the first half and the team was outrebounded 8-5, gave up three offensive boards and Vando committed two fouls, albeit on a bizarre possession with like four fouls called.
JJ Redick
As he always does, Redick is rounding this team into form defensively. It's still a work in progress and this was just the Kings, but you can see this team improving on that end of the floor and, minus the rebounding, this was a good showing.
Grade: B+
Wednesday's inactives:
Chris Mañon, Adou Thiero, Arthur Kaluma
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