The Los Angeles Lakers (42-25) made quick work of the San Antonio Spurs (28-39) and solidified their hold on the 4th seed with a 125-109 victory on March 18.
Los Angeles Lakers Top Performers:
Luka Doncic 21 PTS | 9 REB | 14 AST | 61.8 FPS
Doncic had a difficult time on offense today, shooting just 5-for-20 from the field and an even worse 1-for-7 from three-point range. However, he managed to keep his numbers respectable with a 10-for-13 performance from the free-throw line, though his struggles in that area remain evident. Despite this, he has been a strong scorer this month, dropping a recent 45-point game and recording around 30 points in five other games. He has also reached 20+ points in ten straight games, marking the longest such streak by a Lakers guard since Kobe Bryant in 2013. On top of that, he continues to provide elite numbers in rebounds, assists, and steals. However, he is expected to be available for only two of their next three games.
Austin Reaves 30 PTS | 7 REB | 6 AST | 51.4 FPS
Reaves has seen a considerable surge in his fantasy value over his last four games. He has scored 28 or more points in each of those games, nearly reaching 40 in one of them. He has made significant strides on offense, showing great efficiency from the field and strong production from three. He also continues to thrive at the line, though his free-throw output was slightly muted today. Additionally, he has also made a solid impact in other categories, particularly on defense, averaging three stocks over his last three games. He should be able to maintain this level of production as long as James remains out.
Jordan Goodwin 15 PTS | 3 AST | 3 STL | 36.3 FPS
Goodwin’s offensive production has been highly up-and-down lately. But he should remain an important part of the rotation, especially with the team’s many injuries.
Jaxson Hayes 9 PTS | 11 REB | 2 STL | 33.7 FPS
Hayes missed four games recently due to a knee issue but has made a strong impact in his two games since returning. He has played without restrictions and should continue to see increased production while key players remain sidelined.
Gabe Vincent 11 PTS | 3-5 3PT | 2 STL | 20.9 FPS
Vincent has been getting more consistent minutes off the bench recently, but his contributions have mostly been limited to scoring. On top of that, he’s expected to miss at least one more game this week as he continues to work through a knee injury.
San Antonio Spurs Top Performers:
Stephon Castle 23 PTS | 8 REB | 3 AST | 35.1 FPS
Castle’s fantasy value has climbed this month with the team’s top players sidelined, and he should continue to thrive for the rest of the season. He just recorded his seventh 20+ point game since the break and has also shown ability to put up solid lines in multiple areas. However, consistency is still an issue, and his free-throw shooting remains a major weakness, sitting at just 68% over his last ten games.
Devin Vassell 17 PTS | 8 REB | 1 BLK | 30.6 FPS
Vassell has stepped up in a bigger role with the team’s top players sidelined, scoring 20+ points in three of the last five games and never falling below 15 in that stretch. He’s also strengthened his value with consistent rebounding and defensive efforts, and should keep on producing with a manageable schedule ahead.
Keldon Johnson 11 PTS | 2 STL | 2 BLK | 27.8 FPS
Johnson has provided a consistent spark to the team and has been a dependable contributor this month. He has scored in double-digits in eight of his last nine and also maintained good value in rebounding. On top of that, he’s made a bigger impact on defense lately, recording 7 stocks in his last two games.
Chris Paul 9 PTS | 6 REB | 8 AST | 26.2 FPS
Paul has been seeing limited minutes lately, which has led to a drop in his production. However, he rebounded strong today with Castle struggling early. While it’s unlikely that he will be able maintain this level of play, he should still be an impactful contributor when the team needs help in his position.
Jeremy Sochan 15 PTS | 7-9 FG | 3 REB | 17.1 FPS
Sochan’s production was cut short today after he was ejected in the fourth quarter. However, he’s been on an upward trend lately, scoring 14+ points on efficient shooting while also contributing modest rebounds in four straight games. He is expected to remain one of the team’s top producers for the rest of the season, though consistency has been a concern.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Dalton Knecht 13 PTS | 4-10 FG | 3 REB
Knecht has been dealing with a back problem, which may be contributing to his recent decline in performance. However, he has shown the ability to contribute on offense and should see more opportunities with an upcoming back-to-back set of games.
