Luka Doncic’s Struggles in Lakers’ Loss to Warriors: A Night to Forget
LOS ANGELES — It was a night that started with promise but ended in disappointment for Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers. The highly anticipated clash against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night saw Doncic make an early impact with a smooth running finger roll. However, the rest of the game was a different story as the Lakers fell 123-116 to their rivals.
Doncic, who is known for his scoring prowess, finished the game with 19 points on a tough 6-for-17 shooting night. “That performance from me was unacceptable,” Doncic candidly admitted after the game. The loss dropped the Lakers to No. 4 in the Western Conference standings with just six games left in the regular season. “When I play like that, that makes [it] harder [for the team] to win, so just got to figure that out,” he added.
One of the most surprising aspects of Doncic’s performance was his struggle from beyond the arc. He went 0-for-6 from three-point range, snapping an impressive 114-game streak of making at least one three-pointer. This streak, which dated back nearly two years to April 7, 2023, was the fifth longest in NBA history.
Despite his shooting woes, Doncic did not attribute his off night to any physical issues, even though his left elbow was heavily wrapped in kinesiology tape and iced. “It’s fine,” Doncic said. “That’s my left [arm], so it’s fine. I was shooting with the right. It [just] looked like [the] left.”
Warriors’ Defense and Lakers’ Struggles
The Warriors’ defense played a significant role in the Lakers’ struggles, particularly in the first half. Golden State employed a switch-everything defensive strategy that seemed to rattle the Lakers, who shot just 35.7% and trailed 60-47 at halftime. Lakers coach JJ Redick pointed out that the issues were more about the Lakers’ execution than the Warriors’ defense. “It was not what they were doing,” Redick said. “It was what we were doing. And we showed them at halftime. The spacing alignments [were incorrect] and having the wrong guy in the dunker spot, the wrong guy in the corner.”
Despite the early struggles, the Lakers mounted a comeback in the second half, scoring 69 points. LeBron James, playing in his seventh game since returning from a two-week absence due to a strained left groin, was instrumental in the rally. He scored 25 of his 33 points in the second half, while Austin Reaves added 20 of his 31 points after the break.
“That was the best I’ve felt since before the injury, for sure,” James said. “I just tried to press, get downhill. My rhythm, as far as my jump shot, felt pretty good today. I have been shooting it from the free throw line extremely well as of late. But that was probably the best physically I’ve felt so hopefully I can build off of that.”
Looking Ahead: Lakers’ Upcoming Challenges
The Lakers managed to cut the Warriors’ fourth-quarter lead from 14 to five with 4:37 remaining and again with 34.6 seconds left, but they couldn’t close the gap any further. The Lakers now face a crucial stretch of games as they host the undermanned New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, followed by a two-game road trip against the Oklahoma City Thunder and a game against the Dallas Mavericks, marking Doncic’s first return to face his former team.
- The Lakers are currently one game up on the No. 5 Warriors but hold the tiebreaker from winning the season series 3-1.
- L.A. is a half-game behind No. 3 Denver, but the Nuggets hold the tiebreaker.
Doncic acknowledged the playoff-like atmosphere of the game, especially with the Warriors’ recent acquisition of Jimmy Butler. “It obviously felt like a playoff game,” Doncic said. “Obviously, the Warriors, since they acquired Jimmy [Butler], they’ve been playing unbelievably. So it was kind of playoff game and now we see what kind of team they are. Maybe we can meet them, maybe not, in the playoffs. So, we just need to be more ready.”
As for James, he remains focused on the Lakers’ performance and is “hopeful” to play against New Orleans. When asked about Draymond Green‘s confidence in the Warriors’ championship chances, James kept his attention on his own team. “I have no idea, I can’t answer that question,” James said. “I got to worry about us. I can’t be worrying about other teams. That ain’t my job.”
Originally Written by: Dave McMenamin
