LeBron James Leads Lakers to Blowout Win Over Wizards Without Luka Doncic

The 41-year-old James records a triple-double as Lakers cruise to 120-101 victory.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:08am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the action of a basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into abstract shapes and planes of vibrant colors.A cubist interpretation of LeBron James' triple-double performance, capturing the dynamic energy and movement of the Lakers' blowout victory.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Lakers handily defeated the Washington Wizards 120-101 on Monday night, led by a vintage performance from 41-year-old LeBron James. James recorded his 125th career triple-double, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to achieve the feat. The Lakers were able to win convincingly despite the absence of star guard Luka Doncic, who was suspended for the game. Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes, and Luke Kennard all stepped up to contribute to the Lakers' lopsided victory over the struggling Wizards.

Why it matters

The Lakers' blowout win over the Wizards demonstrates their ability to win without their superstar Luka Doncic, a positive sign as the playoffs approach. LeBron James' continued excellence at 41 years old also highlights his longevity and status as one of the all-time greats. The game provided valuable practice time for the Lakers to work on their execution and chemistry ahead of the postseason.

The details

LeBron James led the way for the Lakers, recording 21 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds to notch his 125th career triple-double. At 41 years and 90 days old, James became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, surpassing his own previous record. Austin Reaves stepped up in Doncic's absence, nearly recording a double-double with 19 points and 9 assists. Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard also had strong performances off the bench, scoring 19 points each. The Lakers shot the ball efficiently, with Deandre Ayton going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field.

  • LeBron James recorded his 125th career triple-double on March 31, 2026.
  • At 41 years and 90 days old, James became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, surpassing his own previous record.
  • The Lakers defeated the Wizards 120-101 on Monday night.

The players

LeBron James

A 41-year-old NBA superstar and one of the greatest players of all time, currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Austin Reaves

A Lakers guard who stepped up in the absence of Luka Doncic, nearly recording a double-double with 19 points and 9 assists.

Jaxson Hayes

A Lakers backup center who scored 19 points on 8-for-8 shooting, including a 3-pointer.

Luke Kennard

A Lakers bench player who scored 19 points, knocking down 4 of 5 3-pointers.

Deandre Ayton

A Lakers center who shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, scoring 12 points with 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.

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What they’re saying

“The value is being able to continue to improve. And again, I said this, we've placed a heavy emphasis on what we're teaching in film and what we're cleaning up in film, because we haven't had court time to do that. So (Sunday), it was some of the game clean-up stuff. All the guys got some reps doing some things that they probably won't do during a real game.”

— JJ Redick, Lakers Coach

What’s next

Luka Doncic will return to the lineup for the Lakers' next game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.

The takeaway

The Lakers' ability to win convincingly without their superstar Luka Doncic, coupled with LeBron James' continued excellence at 41 years old, bodes well for the team's playoff aspirations. The game also provided valuable practice time for the Lakers to improve their execution and chemistry ahead of the postseason.