The Los Angeles Lakers recently played against the Denver Nuggets in a thrilling showdown at Ball Arena. Though star players LeBron James and Luka Doncic were sidelined, Austin Reaves stepped up significantly. At the same time, rookie Dalton Knecht delivered an impressive performance, showcasing his potential and offering vital support for the Lakers.
Reaves delivered an outstanding performance, playing for 39 minutes and achieving a remarkable double-double with 37 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Knecht excelled for 37 minutes, scoring 32 points and contributing one assist and two rebounds. Recently, ClutchPoints discussed whether Knecht has proven he is a key piece for the Lakers’ future.
“We’ve seen JJ Redick be really hard on Dalton. He’s called timeouts to chew him out. But it’s for moments like facing Denver without LeBron James or Luka Doncic. JJ can expect more from Dalton because he demands more. Tonight, Dalton gave his coach 32 points. There was one moment that stood out,” via ClutchPoints.
We've seen JJ Redick be really hard on Dalton.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 15, 2025
He's called timeouts to chew him out. But it's for moments like facing Denver without LeBron James or Luka Doncic. JJ can expect more from Dalton because he demands more.
Tonight, Dalton gave his coach 32 points. There was one… pic.twitter.com/ZryEndNNHO
Despite Knecht and Reaves’s impressive efforts, the Lakers fell short of victory. Ultimately, the Nuggets emerged victorious, sealing the match with a final score of 131-126.
Dalton Knecht’s Stellar Game Against the Denver Nuggets
On February 6, 2025, the Lakers made an exciting trade agreement, sending Knecht and Cam Reddish to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Mark Williams, a highly sought-after first-round pick in 2031, and a pick swap. However, two days later, the excitement faded into disappointment when the trade was rescinded after Williams failed to pass his physical examination with the Lakers.
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This turn of events generated significant buzz within the NBA community regarding Knecht. Nonetheless, in his recent game, Knecht managed to silence all the questions surrounding him.
“In the next possession, Dalton stayed in the corner and hit a 3. A minute later, the Lakers took the momentum and the lead. They forced two turnovers on the best player in the world. And on the second turnover, Reaves found Knecht in transition for the dunk. He took a terrifying fall. But with less than a minute left, the Lakers now had a 3-point lead. The talent and experience of Denver took over. Jamal Murray hit another game-winner against LA. But the Lakers saw something in Dalton Knecht in that game. An upside. A confidence. A reason to not be sad about the Mark Williams trade falling apart,” via ClutchPoints.
DALTON KNECHT TONIGHT
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) March 15, 2025
🛜 37 minutes
🛜 32 points
🛜 2 rebounds
🛜 13/27 FG
🛜 5/13 3PT
HOPE DK IS OKAY 🙏 pic.twitter.com/uTPkD8lk2O
The Lakers are currently in fifth place in the Western Conference, boasting a record of 40 wins and 25 losses. Their next game will be against the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena.
