Luka Doncic discussed his return to the court after a two-game absence as the Los Angeles Lakers edged the Philadelphia 76ers 112-108 on Sunday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Doncic finished with 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists, recording another triple-double for Los Angeles.
Reflecting on the recent birth of his daughter, Doncic said, “Was there for the birth of my daughter… that means everything to me. But it was definitely a roller coaster.” He admitted the travel and schedule made him tired but expressed gratitude for the team’s win.
Doncic praised LeBron James’ performance down the stretch, calling it “amazing… vintage Bron… two or three baskets was insanely important for us. He just decided the game.” He credited James’ fourth-quarter surge for helping secure the victory.
On his physical state after travel from Slovenia, Doncic said, “I was tired… mentally I wasn’t there much, but I’m just glad we got a win.” The 26-year-old acknowledged the challenges of balancing family milestones with professional obligations.
Doncic also highlighted the Lakers’ team depth, noting, “We have a great team… everybody can have a night… when we all play together, it’s hard to stop us.” He referenced contributions from teammates like Deandre Ayton, who went 7-for-7 and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Rui Hachimura, whose third-quarter scoring helped seal the lead.
Discussing team defense against a fast-paced Philadelphia squad, Doncic explained, “It was just physicality… during the last six minutes of the first quarter, we established our defense and got out and run. If they want to run us, we can run them.” Los Angeles held the Sixers to 48 points in the second half.
On becoming a father of two, Doncic described the experience as “the best thing in the world… obviously two girls… they’re going to make my life hell for sure. But all jokes aside, I’m just blessed.” He acknowledged the Lakers’ support in allowing him to attend the birth.
Doncic was asked about chasing MVP honors, saying, “I just play my game… you never know what’s going to happen… obviously anybody in the world that plays basketball wants it. So we’ll see what happens.”
Los Angeles improved to 17-6 and 8-3 on the road, with LeBron James adding 29 points and key late-game baskets. Philadelphia fell to 13-10 despite 28 points from Tyrese Maxey and a competitive effort from Joel Embiid. The Lakers will host San Antonio on Wednesday in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, while the Sixers return home to face Indiana on Friday.
