Luka Doncic scored 38 points and dished 11 assists 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 about returning from a four-game absence due to a mildly strained hamstring.
Doncic described his matchup with Kris Dunn as a spark for intensity. “Obviously we had history before, so it gets another spark in the game,” he said. “I think maybe because of that.”
He praised the team’s first-quarter offensive efficiency. “In the first quarter, we’re playing the defense and then we play with a lot of pace, create some different looks, and I think that’s how we should play,” Doncic explained after the Lakers hit 16 of 17 shots in a stretch.
On lineup chemistry with LeBron James and Austin Reaves, he noted steady improvement. “We haven’t played a lot together but chemistry is going to grow and grow,” Doncic said. “This was just our 11th game together this season.”
Marcus Smart’s defensive leadership drew special attention from the Slovenian star. “On the defensive end, he is one of the best to ever do that. But then in the fourth quarter, he threw very, very big shots for us. To stay in the game locked in without a shot, we appreciate him for that.”
Doncic emphasized closing out tight games as a priority. “It was very good in the first quarter, and in the end in the fourth quarter you have to win the game. We were tied, we were two points down, and it’s time to win the game.”
Trash talk never rattles the guard. “I just always talk back, try to score, pass, win the game,” he said. “Very important. Obviously, we want to go game by game but it was important to start like this.”
The addition of Luke Kennard also helped open the floor for Doncic. “It definitely opened stuff up for me, a lot. I didn’t hit one three only, so obviously gonna work that chemistry, but I feel like I have a lot of space when he’s on the court.”
Doncic’s leadership and offensive execution were critical as the Lakers improved to 34-21 in the Western Conference, while the Clippers fell to 27-28. Los Angeles shot 44-for-85 overall, including 17-for-31 from beyond the arc, with Austin Reaves adding 29 points on 9-of-15 shooting.
The Lakers will host the Boston Celtics on Sunday, continuing their push toward playoff positioning, while the Clippers return home to face the Orlando Magic.
