Luka Doncic described Austin Reaves’ late-game rebound and floater as “kind of amazing,” adding, “JJ told me to tell AR to miss right, so he missed left. So, it was a good play. That gave us a win basically.” He called the execution “perfection” and praised Reaves for maintaining focus under pressure.
On the team’s resilience after losing a double-digit lead, Doncic said, “It wasn’t only a feeling, actually every guy on the floor did something to get us that win. When you have a big lead and then get down, it’s easy to relax a little, but we came back, the crowd got into it, and that helped us a lot.”
Regarding LeBron James’ diving effort late in regulation, Doncic noted, “That was a huge play for us. Just him caring for winning was unbelievable and amazing to see.” He highlighted the Lakers’ collective effort, saying, “Every game Marcus does something different to help us win. Playing with him makes it easier for the whole team.”
Discussing his own game-winning shot, Doncic explained, “I saw the double coming, so I went reject to my left hand, to my left step-back. I’ve done it a couple times throughout my career, so I just trusted the shot.” He also praised the arena atmosphere, calling it “the best atmosphere since I’ve been a Laker. The whole crowd was in, it was real special… I had goosebumps a little bit.”
On the significance of playing for the Lakers, Doncic reflected, “A lot of legends play here, they leave a lot behind with the Lakers. Today had a little bit of that feeling for sure.” He emphasized the importance of teamwork in overtime execution, noting, “AR hit a huge shot to get us up two in OT. That was a huge shot for us.”
Doncic also recognized the impact of Marcus Smart’s defensive presence. “Marcus got the strip after that late jump ball we didn’t get. His impact is very big. Playing with him makes everything easier for the team.” He underlined how the Lakers’ collective play contributed to the win.
Saturday’s 127-125 overtime victory over Denver pushed the Lakers to 42-25, extending their winning streak to five games and keeping momentum in the Western Conference playoff race. Doncic finished with 30 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds, while Reaves added 32 points and key late-game plays.
