Ratings for LeBron, Dalton Knecht, Anthony Davis in Lakers win vs. Spurs

Finally, the Lakers get back in the win column and beat the Spurs in dominant fashion 119-101.

This win was much needed after three straight draws, with two defeats being blowouts.

JJ Redick pushed all the right buttons, starting Dalton Knecht in place of Cam Reddish and cutting Gabe Vincent’s minutes to just six for the entire game.

Overall, it was an easy win on the road and it showed that this team plays better when it relies more on its offensive identity.

So let’s dive into the victory. As always, ratings are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance of that player.

Rui Hachimura

26 minutes, 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 5-9 FG, 2-4 3PT, 4-4 FT, -1

Hachimura was active against the Spurs, scoring 16 points, being perfect from the free throw line and crashing the boards and grabbing five rebounds.

He did everything he was asked, no more, no less. If he can continue to play like this, this team’s ceiling will be raised.

Grade: B+

LeBron James

33 minutes, 16 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 8-18 FG, 0-2 3PT, +4

LeBron is becoming a triple-double machine this season. He had another against San Antonio, making it his sixth of the year.

While impressive, he also had some bad moments in this game. He took some questionable shots and struggled to control the ball and had a game-high five turnovers.

If he can be less careless with the ball and smarter with his field-goal attempts, LeBron will be back to his typical performance level.

Grade: B-

Anthony Davis

35 minutes, 19 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 8-14 FG, 0-2 3PT, 3-3 FT, +16

AD had a slow start in the first half, but picked things up later in the game and finished with his usual double-double figures.

All in all, it was a typical Davis performance, but that’s not a bad thing. It was also nice to see him make all his free throws, which has been a problem this past week.

Grade: B

Dalton Knecht

31 minutes, 20 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 8-15 FG, 4-10 3PT, +9

If Knecht is back on the bench soon, Redick will have to answer some tough questions. The rookie was once again sensational, scoring 20 points, shooting 40% from 3-point range and giving this team a much-needed boost offensively.

He has already played at a level even his biggest supporters couldn’t have imagined a month ago. Now, Knecht is cemented as the starter and the best shooter on the roster.

Grade: A

Austin Reaves

32 minutes, 13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 5-11 FG, 3-6 3PT, +8

Reaves is in a fun spot where he is good enough to score in double figures but rarely dominates a game. It’s understandable since two of the players on the team are LeBron and AD, but now that Knecht is entering the starting lineup, there may be less chance for Reaves to get going.

This game was mediocre for Reaves. He was very good from deep and made three three-pointers, but he had long stretches where you would forget he was on the floor.

Grade: B-

Cam Reddish

17 minutes, 0 points, 1 assist, 1 steal, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, +16

Reddish’s return to the bench was okay, I think. He didn’t produce much on the stat line, but his value lies in his defensive presence, and he did well in that department.

Honestly, his minutes are still a little too high for my taste, but given some of the options on the bench, I understand.

Grade: B-

D’Angelo Russell

26 minutes, 17 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 1 steal, 7-11 FG, 3-6 3PT, +19

This was arguably the best D’lo match of the season so far. He was aggressive, attacked the paint, scored on floaters and went 50% from 3-point range.

He was a basket away from his season high of 19 points, and what makes this game encouraging is that Russell absolutely can play that well consistently. He just has to do it.

Grade: A

Max Christie

22 minutes, 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 4-6 FG, 1-3 3PT, 3-3 FT, +16

This game reminds you why the Lakers signed Christie to a 4-year, $32 million deal last summer.

He flew all over the place and made plays on both sides of the ball. He had a one-legged layup, two-handed jam and a nice back-to-back sequence where he blocked a shot on one end, scored and was fouled on the mark on the other.

More games like this from Max and that contract will look like a bargain.

Grade: A

Christian Koloko, Gabe Vincent, Maxwell Lewis, Armel Traore

I find it very interesting that Vincent played less than ten minutes in San Antonio. Is he now down to a shift per game where Dalton gets more runs and Reddy on the bench?

Koloko was good during his short shifts and Lewis and Traore came right into the garbage time to close things out.

JJ Redick

It takes guts to change your starting lineup for the second time this year in just 18 games. However, Redick will not sit idly by and watch his team drop games. He has proven that he will try something and see if it works.

Redick’s decision to stick Knecht with the starters certainly worked Wednesday, and for that, and for shrinking Vincent’s minutes, he got high marks.

Grade: A

Wednesday’s inactive: Jaxson Hayes, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Bronny James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood, Quincy Olivari

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.