NBA Notes: Lakers, Luka Doncic, Raptors, RJ Barrett, Nuggets

Lakers

The Lakers kept rolling in NBA Cup play Tuesday, thumping the Clippers 135–118 and locking up the top spot in West Group B.

They’re now 3–0 in group play and officially moving on to the knockout round, joining Toronto as the first teams to clinch.

As Khobi Price of the Southern California News Group noted, the Lakers’ big three carried the night. Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James combined for 99 points, 24 rebounds and 22 assists.

Doncic was borderline ridiculous with 43 points, 13 assists and nine boards.

L.A. still has one more group game Friday against Dallas, but the Mavericks can’t catch them in the standings. Neither can Memphis nor New Orleans.

Tuesday’s win also gave the Lakers the tiebreaker over the Clippers, who fell to 2–1 in group play.

If the Lakers handle the Mavs on Friday, they’ll host their quarterfinal matchup.

Raptors

RJ Barrett avoided the worst-case scenario. The Raptors said that imaging on Barrett’s injured right knee showed no structural damage, though he has been diagnosed with a sprain and will be out for at least a week.

Barrett missed Monday’s win over Cleveland and is expected to sit out upcoming games against Indiana, Charlotte, New York and Portland. He’ll be reevaluated in seven days.

The injury happened Sunday after Barrett stole an inbounds pass and dunked in transition, grimacing on the landing before checking out.

Toronto’s staff had described the early imaging as “promising,” and the team clearly isn’t rushing him back.

The Raptors are one of the league’s hottest clubs, winners of eight straight and sitting at 13–5, second in the East. And as good as Barrett has been, Toronto has actually posted a +12.9 net rating in the 338 minutes he hasn’t played this season.

Second-year wing Ja’Kobe Walter stepped into the starting lineup Monday and logged a season-high 24 minutes.

Nuggets

Peyton Watson is making the most of his opportunity.

With Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun out, the Nuggets wing has stepped into the starting lineup — and he’s delivering the kind of production that could set him up for a strong restricted free agency this summer.

As Bennett Durando of the Denver Post wrote, Watson’s best path to a big deal might be proving he can be a reliable three-and-D piece.

And the past week certainly helps that case.

He poured in a career-high 32 points against New Orleans, then followed it up with 27 against Memphis, hitting multiple threes in both games and feasting on corner looks.

For a Denver team trying to stay afloat without two starters, Watson’s surge has been a badly needed lift.