Doncic Rising as Lakers Face Easy Stretch and NBA Cup Run
Doncic shines, LeBron manages his workload, and Los Angeles stays near the top. The upcoming homestand could shift the momentum of the season
The Los Angeles Lakers remain second in the Western Conference with a 12-4 record after a nail-biting 108-106 win over the Utah Jazz.
On a night when Austin Reaves struggled from beyond the arc and LeBron James is still not back to full strength, it was once again Luka Doncic who stole the show: 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists, reaffirming himself as the true engine of this team.
The game came after an unusual four-day break, an interruption that, paradoxically, threw the Lakers off rhythm. As the Slovenian star admitted:
I thought four days of rest would help, but it actually made things even harder.
Luka Doncic
Now the Lakers return to Crypto.com Arena for a four-game homestand, a prospect that Doncic is genuinely excited about.
Going back home is great. I can hit the beach and relax a little.
Luka Doncic
Meanwhile, in the NBA Cup, the Lakers are 2-0 in Group B. Tomorrow they face the Clippers in a decisive matchup for securing qualification to Las Vegas, a game that could give Doncic an extra boost of motivation: dominating the tournament in addition to the regular season.