LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Luka Doncic scored 41 points and collected his suspension-triggering 12th technical foul, while Austin Reaves poured in 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to power the Los Angeles Lakers to a 116-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night at a sold-out Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers, returning home from a successful 5-1 road trip, methodically pulled away in the final period to secure their 11th win in 12 games, solidifying their hold on third place in the Western Conference. The Nets, the league’s youngest team, showed fight but ultimately extended their losing streak to 10 games.

Doncic was the engine for Los Angeles, adding eight rebounds and three assists in 39 minutes of dominant play. His night, however, was marred by a double-technical foul assessed with Ziaire Williams in the third quarter, marking his 12th of the season and triggering an automatic one-game suspension under NBA rules. The technical came during a contentious sequence where Doncic was initially called for an offensive foul, a ruling the Lakers unsuccessfully challenged.

Despite that blemish, Doncic’s performance continued a torrid stretch, following games of 43, 32, 33 and 60 points in his last four outings. He efficiently set the tone early, scoring 17 points in the first quarter as the Lakers built a 35-30 lead.

The Nets, led by 18 points from Josh Minott and 16 apiece from Nicolas Claxton and Ziaire Williams, hung tough for three quarters. Brooklyn trailed just 85-84 entering the fourth, but the Lakers’ starters, with Reaves taking the lead, opened the final period with a decisive 18-5 run to put the game out of reach.

LeBron James provided steady all-around play with 14 points, six rebounds and eight assists. The Lakers’ interior defense was a major factor, blocking nine shots, led by five from Jaxson Hayes, who also contributed 10 points and eight rebounds. Deandre Ayton added three blocks and nine points.

The statistical disparity told the story of the Lakers’ control. Los Angeles shot a blistering 54.3% from the field (38 of 70) and 44% from three-point range (11 of 25), while also attempting 42 free throws, making 29. Brooklyn struggled offensively, converting just 41.7% of its field goals (40 of 96) and 25.6% of its threes (10 of 39). The Nets also committed 28 personal fouls to the Lakers’ 16.

Brooklyn’s effort was evident in hustle categories, as they outrebounded Los Angeles 52-42 overall, grabbed 12 offensive boards, and recorded 11 steals. Rookie guard Nolan Traore dished out seven assists but also had seven of Brooklyn’s 14 turnovers. The Nets’ starting frontcourt of Claxton, Williams and Noah Clowney did not play in the fourth quarter as the game slipped away.

The most important phase of the game was undoubtedly the Lakers’ fourth-quarter surge. With the score tight, Reaves ignited the run with a three-pointer off a LeBron James assist, then followed with another deep three to push the lead to 95-87. After a Brooklyn timeout, Reaves hit two free throws and then connected on a 27-foot step-back jumper to extend the lead to 103-89 with just over five minutes remaining, effectively sealing the outcome. During this stretch, the Lakers’ defense clamped down, forcing the young Nets into rushed shots and turnovers.

The victory improved the Lakers’ record to 48-26. The Nets, who have the worst record in the NBA, fell to 17-57. The teams had met once before this season, a 125-109 Lakers win in Brooklyn on Feb. 3.

Los Angeles will be without Doncic for its next game against the Washington Wizards on Monday due to his automatic suspension. Brooklyn continues its difficult season with a home game against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.