Luka Doncic’s history-making triple-double powers Lakers past Wizards

The Lakers steamrolled the Washington Wizards on their trip to the nation’s capital, delivering one of their most complete performances of the season under coach J.J. Redick. There were no late scares, no letdowns, and no drama. Just control from start to finish, highlighted by a history-making triple-double from Luka Doncic.

Games against teams near the bottom of the standings can sometimes turn tricky, especially in the middle of a packed NBA schedule. Fatigue and focus can swing results. That was not the case in Washington. Against a Wizards franchise stuck in a prolonged rebuild, the Lakers handled business with authority. It marked the fourth straight season Washington has lost this home matchup, and this one was a blowout.

The final score told the story: Lakers 142, Wizards 111. A 31-point margin erased the sting of their recent loss in Cleveland and tightened the group heading into the final stop of their East Coast trip, a marquee matchup at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. One year ago on that same trip, the franchise learned it had landed Doncic. This time, he was the one putting on the show.

Los Angeles shot 42 percent from three-point range and 61 percent overall from the field. They also won the rebounding battle 46 to 39 and piled up 17 steals, a clear sign of defensive pressure and effort. Nearly everyone contributed. The execution was sharp on both ends.

Wizards continue to struggle in rebuild

Washington’s season continues to follow a familiar script. Rookie Alex Sarr has shown encouraging flashes, and Kyshawn George has had moments, but consistency and depth remain major issues. Coach Brian Keefe is working with a limited roster, and it shows. Wins are rare and often come only against other lottery-bound teams.

The broader objective in Washington is draft position, not playoff seeding. The focus is on improving their odds in the draft lottery and adding high-end young talent. Nights like this underline how far the roster still has to go.

Doncic takes over in Capital One Arena

If there was any doubt about the best player on the floor, Doncic erased it quickly. He finished with 37 points in just 31 minutes, along with 13 assists and 11 rebounds for a dominant triple-double. He went 6 for 13 from three-point range, 7 for 8 inside the arc, and 5 for 7 from the free throw line. He controlled tempo, created shots, and picked apart the defense.

Along the way, Doncic recorded his second career 25-point first-half triple-double, becoming the only player in NBA history to achieve that feat more than once.

The Slovenian had plenty of help. Deandre Ayton scored 28 points, while LeBron James added 20 and kept the offense flowing. The bench delivered, too. Rui Hachimura bounced back from a recent 0 for 7 outing to score 11 points in what used to be his home arena. Drew Timme posted a plus-17 rating in his 17 minutes. For Washington, Malaki Branham led the team with 17 points.

Fast start puts game out of reach

The Lakers set the tone immediately. Three early three-pointers, two from Doncic and one from James, combined with a cold start from Washington that produced just one made basket in the first three minutes, created instant separation. Los Angeles led 41 to 27 after the first quarter, even with Anthony Gill providing a spark off the Wizards bench.

The second quarter was worse for Washington. The Lakers won it 36 to 21 and took a 77 to 48 lead into halftime. The advantage ballooned to as many as 38 points in the second half. From there, it was cruise control.

With the outcome decided, Redick emptied the bench and gave extended minutes to Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, and Bronny James during garbage time. Austin Reaves is also nearing a return, though his name continues to surface in trade chatter as the deadline approaches due to his value and team-friendly contract.

Los Angeles is now closing in on its 30th win of the season after a statement performance that required no late heroics and no replay viewing. This one was decided early and never in doubt.

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