The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be finding a new offensive identity late in the 2025-26 NBA season, and it is happening largely without LeBron James on the court. Instead, the team has leaned heavily on the scoring and playmaking combination of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, a duo that has helped stabilize the franchise during James‘ recent absence.
The Lakers reinforced that trend Sunday with a convincing 110-97 victory over the New York Knicks. The win allowed Los Angeles to continue climbing the Western Conference standings while maintaining the positive momentum it has developed during a stretch in which its longtime leader has been sidelined.
James did not play because of discomfort in his left elbow and ongoing arthritis in his foot. The injuries have forced head coach JJ Redick to adjust his rotations in recent games and rely more heavily on other offensive options.
Doncic and Reaves explode on offense
The Lakers responded by placing the offensive burden on Doncic and Reaves, who combined for 60 points against New York. Doncic led the effort with 35 points, controlling the tempo from the perimeter while orchestrating the offense and creating opportunities for teammates. Reaves complemented him by providing aggressive scoring both from outside and on drives to the basket.
Beyond the immediate result, the victory carried significant implications in the Western Conference race. The Lakers climbed to fifth place and now sit just one game behind the third seed, keeping them firmly in the battle to improve their playoff position as the regular season winds down.
What stands out most about this stretch is how competitive the Lakers have been without their four-time NBA MVP. During the 2025-26 season, Los Angeles holds a 10-2 record in games James has missed. That run includes wins against strong opponents such as the San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Knicks.
A new Lakers dual threat
The numbers become even more interesting when Doncic and Reaves share the floor without James. In those situations, the Lakers have produced a 9-2 record along with a +13.31 net rating, a metric that measures the difference between points scored and allowed per 100 possessions. The figure suggests that the team’s offense and overall balance improve when the Slovenian star serves as the primary playmaker while Reaves acts as an aggressive secondary option.
With Doncic running the offense and Reaves attacking defenses with perimeter shooting and drives, the Lakers have developed a rhythm that has allowed them to remain competitive despite the absence of their most famous player. The offense flows through Doncic‘s decision-making while Reaves provides spacing and scoring that forces defenses to adjust.
That success raises an uncomfortable but increasingly relevant question for the franchise: are the Lakers more effective with a Doncic-Reaves combination rather than a Doncic-James pairing? So far, the results suggest the answer might be yes. At 41 years old, James is well past his prime, and injuries have begun to limit his availability. While his leadership and experience remain valuable, the current roster appears capable of operating efficiently without him, particularly when Doncic controls the offense.
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