Dalton Knecht Stats Tonight: Lakers rookie looks more comfortable in limited role vs Spurs (Jan. 13)

Dalton Knecht and the LA Lakers returned to action on Monday against the San Antonio Spurs after the wildfires across the city saw two home games postponed for the team. Knecht and the Lakers had some growing pains early on in the contest as they tried to shrug off the rust following a prolonged absence. They last played on Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks on the road.

Knecht was in action for nearly the entire second quarter. He played 9:08 minutes in the first half, tallying three points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal, shooting 1 of 3. His only make came from an and-1. Knecht was a +/- +10, a team-high across the first two quarters, explaining his impact beyond the box score.

Compared to his previous outings amid a slump, where Knecht didn't make much impact, he was highly engaged in Monday's clash. He looked comfortable in team defensive schemes and with the ball in his hands as he sought the right play over forcing shots. His poise was critical in ensuring the Lakers held a 62-53 lead at halftime.

However, Dalton Knecht didn't see much playing time in the final two quarters. With the Lakers struggling to keep hold of the lead, Redick leaned on his experienced players to get them out of the hole. It didn't work, as the Lakers lost 126-102 in a complete collapse in the second half.

Knecht finished the game with 13:49 minutes of action, tallying five points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal, shooting 1 of 5. His struggles from beyond the arc continued with a 0-for-4 display. Knecht was 3 of 3 from the free-throw line.