The Nuggets might have been missing Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray on Wednesday, but that didn’t mean the Lakers could coast. Just a few nights ago, Denver pulled off a gutsy win over the surging Warriors, proving they could handle business even when shorthanded. But let’s be real—Luka Doncic was the only show that mattered when the Nuggets took on the Lakers.

Right out of the gate, he lit up the scoreboard with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting in the first quarter. That scoring burst set the tone as the Lakers stormed ahead 46-29. Denver never stood a chance. L.A. stretched the lead to 30 at one point and never looked back, cruising to a wire-to-wire victory that evened the season series at two apiece.

As the Lakers are wrapping up a brutal six-game, eight-day grind tonight, they’ll have to do it without Doncic. He’s still nursing that sprained right ankle, meaning he won’t be on the floor against the Bucks, according to ESPN‘s Dave McMenamin.

The Lakers are about to wrap up a grueling stretch that no other team in the league has had to endure—six games crammed into just eight days. Blame the January wildfires in L.A. for that, which forced a postponed matchup against the Spurs to be squeezed into an already packed schedule.

They’ve handled it fairly well, going 3-2 so far. Their newest star, Doncic, sat out one of those games, a tough 131-126 loss to Denver last week, as he dealt with a sprained ankle and managed a calf issue. Despite the bumps in the road, L.A. has held firm as the third seed in the West with a 43-25 record over 68 games.

Injuries have been a recurring issue for Luka this season. He strained his calf during the Mavericks’ Christmas Day game and only made his return after the team pulled off a blockbuster trade. So far, he’s played in just 38 games.

With key players like Rui Hachimura and LeBron James also dealing with injuries, keeping Luka healthy is non-negotiable as the playoffs approach. The last thing they need is their star sidelined when it matters most.

And right now? They’re rolling. Three straight wins and counting. After taking on Milwaukee, they’ll get a breather before hosting the Bulls on Saturday night. But beyond just racking up wins, there’s something bigger happening in L.A.—this offense is different, and it all starts with Luka Doncic.

Austin Reaves reveals how Luka Doncic has changed their offense

When the Lakers landed Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade, the mission was obvious—build everything around him. Seven seasons in, he’s already a generational talent, ranking third all-time in points per game and 12th in assists. There were doubts about how L.A. would adjust, but those concerns? Gone.

The Lakers aren’t just winning—they’re thriving. Their latest 120-108 victory over Denver showcased how seamlessly the 5x All-Star has taken control of the offense, turning L.A. into a completely different animal. His presence forces defenses into constant blitzes, which, as Austin Reaves put it, makes everything easier.

“He creates such havoc for teams’ defenses that 90 percent of the time people are blitzing him, as you can probably see, and he makes the right play out of the blitz,” Reaves said. That means four-on-three situations, wide-open looks, and a smooth-flowing offense.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis were a dominant duo, leading L.A. to a title in 2020 and a Conference Finals run in 2023. But the Slovenian is different. He doesn’t rely on speed—just pure skill and IQ. Defenses have no choice but to collapse on him, and that’s exactly what head coach JJ Redick said the Lakers were missing.

No one has benefited more than Reaves. Since the trade, he’s been putting up 22.3 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game, proving that with the right pieces, Redick’s system is as dangerous as ever.