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LeBron James has a triple-double as Luka-less Lakers blow out Wizards


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Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, shoots in front of Washington Wizards guard Tre Johnson, center, and forward Justin Champagnie during the second half on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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LOS ANGELES — Monday was as good a night as any for Luka Doncic to not be in the building.

The Washington Wizards (17-58) proved no match for the Lakers (49-26) – with or without their MVP candidate, as LeBron James, Austin Reaves and the hosts cruised to a 120-101 victory at Crypto.com Arena.

"We came in, we got the job done, understanding it doesn't matter who we're playing, we're still trying to build habits for the postseason," James said. "A good win for us."

Taking over primary ball-handling duties from Doncic while the Slovenian star served his one-game suspension after receiving his 16th technical foul last week, Reaves tallied a double-double (19 points, nine assists) while James recorded his third triple-double of the season and 125th of his career (21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds). The 41-year-old also tied the NBA record for combined regular season and playoff wins with his 1,228th overall, matching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar atop the list.

"I've had moments more this year and last year that I've enjoyed more in the moment," James said. "It's pretty cool. It's pretty cool to know that … at this point in my career, I'm still able to do those things, man. It's super dope. It's super humbling. And I just try to put the work in and continue to put the work in and those are the results of it."

The Lakers have now won three consecutive games – all against the Eastern Conference's bottom three teams – and 15 of their past 17. Heading into the second half of a back-to-back set on Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lakers coach JJ Redick was able to deploy the likes of Bronny James and Drew Timme with 5:49 remaining – and later, guards Dalton Knecht and Kobe Bufkin – to rest his high-usage players ahead of the far more competitive matchup, on paper, to come.

The Cavaliers beat the Lakers by 30 points on Jan. 28 in Cleveland, a performance that, albeit just two months ago, came against a different Lakers squad. Gabe Vincent, now with the Atlanta Hawks, was tied for the Lakers' second-leading scorer that night, while Luke Kennard, who had 19 points on Monday on 7-of-10 shooting (4 for 5 from 3-point range) had yet to don purple and gold.

"I've been enjoying it every single day," Kennard said. "To be on a team like this, and knowing we're going to be in the postseason, we're going to be playing for something. As a player, it's exciting."

Redick added on Kennard, who leads the league in 3-point percentage (48.4%) and has averaged 8.3 points per game since joining the team: "He's a pro. He's just very steady and very consistent in execution, in effort. Obviously there is a gravity that he has off the ball, both as a spacer and as a mover and he's just been a terrific decision-maker for us."

Reaves was still nursing a left calf strain that kept him off the court for that game in Cleveland, and the start of the Lakers' nine-game win streak was still a month away. The Lakers are 21-8 record since losing to the Cavaliers and are four wins away from their most wins since the 2010-2011 season.

The Lakers' five first-quarter turnovers on Monday – of 15 overall, above their season average – helped the Wizards take a 26-25 lead heading into the second quarter when guard Jamir Watkins dunked with 0.2 seconds on the clock. The Lakers closed the first half on a 38-13 run and took a 21-point lead to the locker room, but Washington never back entirely away until the fourth.

The visitors got back within 10 points with 3:13 left in the third quarter, but the Lakers eventually swatted them away like a pesky fly. James drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key early in the fourth, re-establishing a 20-point lead at 97-77, and the Lakers led by as much as 30 before it was over. Backup center Jaxson Hayes finished with 19 points on 8-for-8 shooting off the bench, while forward Rui Hachimura (14 points) and center Deandre Ayton (12 points) also scored in double figures.

"I think the most important thing is both of those guys (Ayton and Hayes) are playing their best basketball of the season for what the team needs at the right moment," Redick said. "And it's coincided with us winning."

The Lakers would have clinched a playoff berth and the Pacific Division title with the win and a Phoenix loss, but the Suns' 131-105 victory over Memphis delayed the formality of securing a fourth straight trip to the postseason.

Will Riley had 20 points to pace the Wizards, who played without in-season trade acquisitions Trae Young and Anthony Davis and lost for the 19th time in 20 games to drop into a tie with Indiana for last place in the East. Young and Davis are both nursing injuries, with the former Lakers star yet to debut for the Wizards after suffering a left finger sprain.

REDICK CAMPAIGNS FOR DONCIC

Doncic expressed in Spanish after the Lakers defeated the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night, that the better he plays in games, the more likely he is to slip in power rankings. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama remain Doncic's top competition for league MVP honors.

Redick was asked Monday afternoon about Doncic's comments and if he had anything to add, either statistically or anecdotally about his star guard.

"Yeah, I would just say, if we continue to finish the season the way we're playing right now, and he continues to play that way – to me, he is the MVP," Redick said before Monday's game. "… I think when we started 15-4 you could have made an argument that he was the MVP then. Well, he's been the MVP for two of the three segments of the season."

Doncic leads the league in scoring (33.7 points per game) while averaging 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds. The 2018-19 Rookie of the Year has one top-three MVP finish; coming in 2023-24 while playing with the Dallas Mavericks.

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