Pregame analysis and predictions of the San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA game to be played on November 5, 2025 on ESPN.

According to Howard, he was still nursing a shoulder injury at the time, but he chose to play anyway. The Lakers suffered a terrible loss to the Boston Celtics, and D12 already felt something was off, as he was never taken out of the game despite it being garbage time.

Playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers won at Portland on Monday night behind a combined 57 points from starters Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura and an unexpected 25-point performance from reserve guard Nick Smith Jr.

Despite being shorthanded, the Lakers pulled off a hard-fought 123-115 victory at the Moda Center against the Blazers.

"Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are both being held out of the lineup against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers announced, one day after the pair played nearly 40 minutes apiece in a 130-120 win over the Miami Heat ," wrote Dave McMenamin.

Spectators flocking to the Moda Center expecting a blockbuster will be sorely disappointed. The Portland Trail Blazers are hosting a very shortstaffed Los Angeles Lakers.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves tossed an alley oop lob to Bronny James, something Reaves has done many times before with James' father, LeBron.

Luka Dončić missed three games late in October with a finger sprain and a leg contusion. Although the Slovenian star played in the Lakers’ last two games, the team opted to rest him for Monday’s matchup. Austin Reaves, meanwhile, appeared in Los Angeles’ first seven games but has also been ruled out against Portland due to right groin soreness.