Luka Doncic has made one thing clear since joining the Los Angeles Lakers: his sights are set on nothing less than the championship. After a dramatic 113-109 overtime win over the New York Knicks on Thursday, the All-Star guard reinforced his championship aspirations. “The goal is the championship, obviously. There are no other goals than that,” Doncic said in a post-game interview.
When asked about the Lakers’ approach to comebacks, Doncic shared what he thinks makes the difference in critical moments. “First, being more physical. I think we were just kind of sloppy in the first half, but in the fourth quarter, we were physical, getting stops, and we were just playing our basketball on the offensive end,” he said.
The Lakers had to overcome a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but a 19-6 run led by Doncic, Gabe Vincent’s clutch three-pointer, and James’ free throws put them on top. Despite a heroic performance from Jalen Brunson, who scored 39 points and dished out 10 assists for New York, the Knicks couldn’t close out the game, particularly after Brunson suffered a right ankle injury in overtime.
Doncic, who has been averaging 23.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.1 assists since joining the Lakers, also spoke about the team’s chemistry. “Just the chemistry, I think everybody gets along, that’s really important. We’re well connected. Obviously, there’s room for improvement, but I think we’re well connected, so I’m excited to be a part of this team,” he noted.
With the win, the Lakers extended their streak to eight games and improved their record to 40-21. LeBron James contributed 31 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists in the win, further proving the two stars’ ability to lead Los Angeles through tough challenges.
