The Los Angeles Lakers fell 111-89 to the Boston Celtics on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena, with Luka Doncic leading the team in scoring with 25 points. After the game, Doncic reflected on the performance and areas for improvement.
“Yeah, I think they were very physical. But, you know, they were playing great defense. So we need to do better on offense,” Doncic said. “We score what, 89 points. You know, that’s not like us. So, we got to be better.”
The Lakers struggled against Boston’s drop coverage and perimeter pressure. “You just got to match the physicality on both ends, especially on the offensive end,” Doncic noted, emphasizing the need to respond to the Celtics’ intensity.
Doncic also commented on facing rookie Hugo Gonzalez, a former youth teammate. “Very special. Obviously he’s playing in the same club as me. Very special. I wish him the best of luck. He’s an amazing guy and amazing player,” he said. He added that Gonzalez’s high-effort play makes him an important piece for Boston moving forward.
The Lakers received three technical fouls in the contest, including one on head coach JJ Redick, leading to questions about the impact of officiating. “Maybe. I don’t really know the answer to that question, but maybe for sure,” Doncic said when asked if frustration affected the team’s offense.
The All-Star also addressed the challenge of building chemistry with LeBron James and Austin Reaves. “I think you see, you know, we’re not there yet. But there should be big potential about us three playing together,” he said, highlighting the ongoing process of maximizing their collective scoring and playmaking.
Reflecting on facing elite teams like Boston, Doncic stressed the importance of adapting defensively. “We need to look like how teams like Boston play, especially in defensive end. They’re very aggressive, grab and hold. Referees are letting us play, for sure. Maybe we need to play physically on both ends,” he said.
Sunday’s defeat marked the Lakers’ second straight home loss against a top-tier opponent and left them at 34-21 on the season. LeBron James added 20 points and reached the 43,000-point milestone, while Austin Reaves contributed 15 points. Backup center Jaxson Hayes exited early with an ankle injury.
Next, Los Angeles hosts the Orlando Magic on Tuesday as Doncic and the Lakers aim to improve offensive execution and team cohesion against a less formidable opponent.
