The Los Angeles Lakers (32-19) cruised to a 132-113 victory over the Utah Jazz (12-40) on Monday night, marking Luka Doncic’s highly anticipated debut in purple and gold.
LeBron James led the way with 24 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, while Austin Reaves added 22 points. Doncic, playing for the first time since a calf strain sidelined him on Christmas, finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists in just under 24 minutes.
Los Angeles extended its winning streak to six games and has now won 12 of its last 14. The Lakers overwhelmed Utah with seven players scoring in double figures and shot 54.3% from the field.
Doncic made his presence felt early, throwing a lob to Jaxson Hayes for an alley-oop less than a minute into the game. He later connected with James on a full-court pass for a transition layup just before halftime.
Despite some rust after his long absence, Doncic managed to contribute efficiently. He shot 5-of-14 from the field and struggled from deep, hitting just one of his seven three-point attempts.
The Lakers led by as many as 34 points, controlling the game from start to finish. Rui Hachimura chipped in 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while Jordan Goodwin provided a spark off the bench with 17 points.
Utah struggled on both ends, falling behind early and failing to mount a comeback. Lauri Markkanen and John Collins each scored 17 points, while Walker Kessler added 13 points and 12 rebounds. The Jazz have now lost nine straight road games.
The Jazz shot 46.4% overall but made just 12-of-40 attempts (30%) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ dominance drew a star-studded crowd, with celebrities like Adele, Will Ferrell, and Dirk Nowitzki in attendance. Doncic’s former Mavericks teammate received a warm reception from fans in Los Angeles.
