The Los Angeles Lakers regained control following the injury departure of LeBron James. Courtesy of some exceptional play from Austin Reaves, the Lakers convincingly toppled the San Antonio Spurs on Monday at the Crypto.com arena. Luka Doncic also made a vital contribution to the win. The Slovenian scored 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 14 assists, ultimately forming the scoreline 125-109.
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Dalton Knecht Emerges As An Asset For The Lakers
However, it wasn't just about the stars on the night, as Jordan Goodwin, Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, and rookie wing Dalton Knecht also capitalised on the opportunity presented.
Knecht's recent performance has garnered immense attention. The player was sent away in a trade to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Mark Williams—a deal that was later rescinded. Since returning to the side, Knecht has emerged as a valuable asset. He has averaged 14.3 points in the nine games he has played this month. His standout performance came against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, when he amassed 32 points.
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Luka Doncic Lavishes Praise On Knecht
His rise hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates, with Luka Doncic heaping high praise on 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."
Dalton Knecht was the Lakers' 17th pick in the 2024 NBA draft. He arrived in the NBA at the back of an outstanding college career at Tennessee, where he made his towering presence felt by winning accolades like SEC Player of the Year and Consensus First-Team All-American award.
The rookie will be aiming to take the momentum forward and play a crucial role in the upcoming game against the heavyweights Denver Nuggets.