Luka Doncic scored 38 points and added 11 assists on Friday as the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the LA Clippers 125-122 at Crypto.com Arena.
“It wasn’t bad. Obviously the time after the game, but I felt good,” Doncic said of returning from a four-game absence due to a mild hamstring strain.
Doncic described his match with Kris Dunn as a spark of intensity. “Obviously we had history before, so it puts a new spark into the game,” he said. “I think that might be why.”
He praised the team’s offensive efficiency in the first quarter. “In the first quarter we play defense and then we play with a lot of pace, we create some different looks and I think that’s how we have to play,” Doncic explained after the Lakers hit 16 of 17 shots in a row.
As for the lineup chemistry with LeBron James and Austin Reaves, he noticed a steady improvement. “We haven’t played together much, but the chemistry will continue to grow,” Doncic said. “This was only our eleventh game together this season.”
Marcus Smart’s defensive leadership drew special attention from the Slovenian star. “Defensively, he’s one of the best to ever do that. But in the fourth quarter he threw really, really big shots for us. To stay in the game without a shot, we appreciate him for that.”
Doncic emphasized that closing out tight games was a priority. “It was very good in the first quarter, and ultimately in the fourth quarter you have to win the game. We were tied, we were two points behind and it’s time to win the game.”
Trash talk never confuses the guard. “I always talk back, try to score, pass and win the game,” he said. “Very important. Of course we want to take it from game to game, but it was important to start like this.”
The addition of Luke Kennard also allowed Doncic to get the floor. “It’s definitely opened up a lot for me. I haven’t just hit one three, so obviously that chemistry is going to work, but I feel like I have a lot of space when he’s on the court.”
Doncic’s leadership and offensive execution were crucial as the Lakers improved to 34-21 in the Western Conference, while the Clippers fell to 27-28. Los Angeles shot 44-of-85 overall, including 17-of-31 from beyond the arc, with Austin Reaves adding 29 points on 9-of-15 shooting.
The Lakers host the Boston Celtics on Sunday and continue their push for playoff positioning, while the Clippers return home to take on the Orlando Magic.
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