NBA Notes: Lakers, Luka Doncic, Spurs, Harrison Barnes, Hawks

Lakers

The Lakers finally got their first look at Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart in uniform this preseason, and for two quarters, they looked the part.

Los Angeles led by double digits at halftime against the Suns before things unraveled once the reserves took over, falling 113-104.

Doncic, who had been sitting out after playing for Slovenia this summer, looked fresh. He scored 25 points on 7-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists in 22 minutes. Conditioning looked good, turnovers (five) not so much. But hey, that’s what the preseason is for.

Meanwhile, Austin Reaves continues to shine. He poured in 25 points on efficient shooting and looked ready to carry a bigger load while LeBron James recovers from sciatica.

Deandre Ayton added 10 points and 13 rebounds, again showing strong defensive instincts and some nastiness on the glass.

So yeah, it’s the preseason. But this version of the Lakers looked deep, connected, and much more athletic, at least when the starters were on the court.

Spurs

Harrison Barnes again seems locked into a starting role in San Antonio, per Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.

The veteran forward hasn’t come off the bench since 2016 and enters his 14th season with 304 straight games played. Barnes, on an expiring $19 million deal, said he just wants to “be out there for every game.”

That kind of reliability is part of why the Spurs value him around a young core that’s still finding its voice.

Hawks

Atlanta waived M.J. Walker just a day after signing him, as relayed by Spotrac’s Keith Smith.

Walker has spent most of the last four years in the G League, with short stops in New York’s and Charlotte’s systems, plus a brief NBA stint with Phoenix in 2022.

He’ll likely rejoin the College Park Skyhawks, the Hawks’ affiliate, where he can collect an $85,300 Exhibit 10 bonus if he sticks for 60 days.