After a rough showing against the Cavaliers, the Lakers came out on Wednesday night looking like a team with something to prove-and they delivered in emphatic fashion. In front of a buzzing home crowd, Los Angeles dismantled the Washington Wizards in a 142-111 blowout, marking their largest win of the season. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, this was a statement game, and it was Luka Dončić who penned the loudest part of that message.
Luka Sets the Tone Early
Right out of the gate, Luka Dončić and Deandre Ayton got to work, combining for 16 early points as the Lakers jumped out to an eight-point lead behind an 8-0 run. Dončić was already flirting with a triple-double before the first quarter was even over-he had 11 points, six boards, and five assists with over four minutes still on the clock.
This wasn’t just Luka playing well. This was Luka orchestrating.
The Wizards got a spark from rookie Bub Carrington, who knocked down a pair of threes, and Alex Sarr stepped up with eight points to keep Washington within striking distance. But every time the Wizards made a push, the Lakers had an answer-often in the form of a Dončić-to-Jaxson Hayes connection.
Hayes came off the bench firing, racking up eight points in the opening frame. By the end of the first, LA was up 14 and very much in control.
LeBron and Luka Keep the Pressure On
The second quarter saw LeBron James turn up the intensity. He opened the frame with seven quick points, pushing himself into double figures while Marcus Smart got in on the action with his first three of the night. Ayton kept pouring it in down low, and just like that, the Lakers’ lead ballooned to 22.
Washington tried to regroup with a timeout, and Bilal Coulibaly responded with a dunk, but the Wizards just couldn’t keep pace. Sarr became the first Wizard in double figures, but LeBron answered with a thunderous dunk that had Crypto.com Arena on its feet.
And then Luka went full Luka.
He found Ayton three times in rapid succession for six quick points, pushing his assist total into double digits before halftime. By the break, Dončić had already notched a triple-double: 26 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists-shooting a scorching 64% from the field and 62% from deep. He was in complete command, and the Lakers were up by 29.
Third Quarter Clinic
Washington opened the second half with a jumper from Sarr, but the Lakers responded with more of the same. Jake LaRavia got on the board after cleaning up a missed LeBron layup, and then LeBron threw down a reverse dunk off a dish from Smart that forced another Wizards timeout. The lead was now 30, and the Lakers were shooting 80% in the early minutes of the third.
Dončić continued to torch the Wizards from deep, knocking down his sixth three of the night. By the time the clock hit 4:12 in the third, LA led by 34.
Rui Hachimura chipped in with a quick five off the bench, and while the Lakers eased up slightly toward the end of the quarter, the damage was done. Washington closed the frame on a 10-1 run, trimming the deficit to 24, but the gap still felt insurmountable.
Closing Time
The fourth quarter opened with both teams missing their first few looks, but Ayton got LA on the board with a dunk, and Jarred Vanderbilt followed with a three-pointer. Vanderbilt’s hustle stood out all night-he added four steals and two rebounds to his eight-point effort.
LeBron added yet another dunk, and by the 5:29 mark, the Lakers were up 28 and ready to call it a night. The bench emptied soon after.
Final Numbers Tell the Story
Luka Dončić finished with a monster line: 37 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists, and three steals-another masterclass from a player who’s making these kinds of nights feel routine. Ayton was a force inside, dropping 28 points to go with 13 boards and three assists. LeBron added 20 points, six assists, and a pair of steals, showing no signs of slowing down.
Off the bench, Hayes contributed 10 points, while Hachimura added 11 with two rebounds and two assists. Vanderbilt’s impact went beyond the box score, but his four steals and defensive energy were key in maintaining the Lakers’ dominance.
What’s Next
With this win, the Lakers move forward with some serious momentum. They’ll look to keep it rolling on Sunday when they host the New York Knicks at 4:00 PM PT. If Luka and company bring this level of intensity, the Knicks better be ready for a battle.