Luka Doncic Shines Bright in Lakers’ Victory Over Nuggets
DENVER — In a thrilling display of basketball prowess, Luka Doncic made a statement on Saturday night, showcasing why he is one of the most exciting players in the NBA today. It took him just one quarter to match his highest scoring output from his first three games with the Los Angeles Lakers, as he racked up 16 points, helping L.A. build an early lead against the Denver Nuggets.
Doncic didn’t stop there. He continued to dominate, finishing with a game-high 32 points in a commanding 123-100 victory. This win was particularly sweet for the Lakers, marking their first triumph in Denver in nearly three years.
“It’s very tough to play here against that team,” Doncic said, reflecting on the game. He also contributed 10 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals in his fourth game with the Lakers since being traded earlier this month. “Just to win like that, it’s an amazing win for us and gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.”
The Lakers not only ended the Nuggets’ impressive nine-game winning streak but also snapped their own eight-game winless streak at Ball Arena. The last time L.A. managed to beat the Nuggets in a regular-season game on Denver’s home floor was April 10, 2022.
Lakers coach JJ Redick had a unique challenge for Doncic before the game. He encouraged him to get so engrossed in the competition that he experiences a “blackout episode,” where he starts yelling indiscriminately in the heat of battle. And indeed, that happened several times during the game.
“He was super dialed in,” said LeBron James about Doncic’s performance. “He was very locked in on what he wanted to do out here on the floor tonight. Once he started hitting those step-back 3s and got to yelling and barking, either at the fans or at us, or himself.”
Before this breakout game, Doncic had averaged 14.7 points on 35.6% shooting (20.8% from 3) through his first three games while slowly integrating himself into the lineup after a left calf injury had kept him sidelined since Christmas with the Dallas Mavericks.
On Saturday night, Doncic led L.A. in shot attempts, going 10-for-22 from the field, and was tied for the lead in assists with seven. James also had a stellar performance with 25 points on 11-for-19 shooting, along with nine rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. Fellow starters Austin Reaves (23 points, seven assists) and Rui Hachimura (21 points, four assists) also topped the 20-point plateau.
Redick emphasized that Doncic will only see more touches moving forward. “I think Luka needs to be the guy that controls the offense,” Redick said. “And Bron and AR, because we’re going to stagger everybody, they’re going to have their times to be on the ball. But all three of those guys are very intelligent basketball players and we can create mismatches. We can get teams in the blender.”
James, who was the beneficiary of a full-court outlet pass from Doncic to score on a streaking dunk just a couple of possessions into the game, endorsed Redick’s plan of action. “I’m a natural-born wide receiver and he’s a natural-born quarterback, so it fits perfectly,” James said.
With Doncic’s first game against his former team looming on Tuesday, when L.A. hosts the Mavs, the Lakers’ new star already sounded convinced he will be able to make an NBA Finals run with his new group, the way he did with Dallas last year.
“I think our goal is — not I think, I know our goal is to win championship,” Doncic said. “That’s our only goal. And I think we have the team for that.”
- Doncic’s performance: 32 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals
- Lakers’ first win in Denver in nearly three years
- LeBron James: 25 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks
- Upcoming game: Lakers vs. Mavericks
Originally Written by: Dave McMenamin
