Luka Don\u010di\u0107 couldn\u2019t discover his shot in his third sport with the Lakers, and LeBron James couldn\u2019t make up for it.
Greg Beacham | The Related Press
Luka Don\u010di\u0107 is 16-for-45 from the sector in his 3 video games with the Lakers, however simply 5-for-24 on 3-point makes an attempt.
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LOS ANGELES (AP)<\/strong> \u2014 Luka Don\u010di\u0107 couldn\u2019t discover his shot in his third sport with the Los Angeles Lakers, and LeBron James couldn\u2019t make up for it.
But the Lakers all say they aren\u2019t fearful after their embarrassing 100-97 loss<\/a> to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night time.
Don\u010di\u0107 scored 14 factors on 5-of-18 taking pictures, together with a 1-for-9 efficiency on 3-point makes an attempt. The Slovenian celebrity added 11 rebounds and eight assists, but additionally dedicated six turnovers and 5 private fouls whereas taking part in 33 minutes in his longest efficiency since becoming a member of the Lakers in a blockbuster commerce with Dallas.
\u201cClearly, it\u2019s going to take a while,\u201d Don\u010di\u0107 mentioned. \u201cImmediately, plenty of rustiness from my half. Began the sport with like 4 or 5 turnovers. That may\u2019t occur. Simply bought to play basketball the best manner.\u201d
The night was clearly irritating to Don\u010di\u0107, who was taking part in solely his third NBA sport following a 6 1\/2-week absence attributable to a calf pressure incurred on Christmas. On a few events when this usually electrifying scorer managed to make a shot towards the Hornets, Don\u010di\u0107 reacted with a visual mixture of reduction and frustration.
Don\u010di\u0107 is 16-for-45 from the sector in his three video games with the Lakers, however simply 5-for-24 on 3-point makes an attempt \u2014 together with 2-for-16 in his two residence video games, the place followers have buzzed with anticipation of every shot after which groaned at every clank.
Again-to-back losses to cellar-dwelling Utah and Charlotte are grim outcomes for a staff that had received 10 of 11, however the 40-year-old James additionally isn\u2019t involved about Doncic\u2019s begin in purple and gold.
\u201cIt\u2019s his third sport since Christmas, and it\u2019s his third sport with us,\u201d James mentioned. \u201cHe nonetheless doesn\u2019t know all of the performs. He doesn\u2019t know all of the defensive coverages, all of the alerts and issues that we\u2019ve constructed up since September. Clearly, we\u2019re making an attempt to fast-track it on the fly. He\u2019s getting back from his damage. He\u2019s getting again into type, so we\u2019re working by it collectively.\u201d
Not every part was grim about Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s efficiency towards Charlotte, his first during which he didn\u2019t have a minutes restriction since his damage return. He led Los Angeles in rebounds, and his plus-13 ranking was the Lakers\u2019 greatest quantity regardless of his turnovers.
\u201cHe\u2019s bought to be comfy being himself, as a result of he\u2019s the most effective gamers on the earth,\u201d mentioned Austin Reaves, whose third-quarter ejection was swiftly adopted by the Hornets\u2019 18-1 run. \u201cWe want him to be him, and it\u2019s simply going to take a few video games, a few weeks to determine what that greatest seems like. However we will determine it out pretty rapidly.\u201d
With the sport on the road within the closing seconds, Don\u010di\u0107 was the one inbounding the ball to James, who then missed two 3-point makes an attempt within the closing six seconds. Don\u010di\u0107 had no drawback with not being within the late-game highlight.
\u201cHe had it going, so clearly we\u2019re going to go to him,\u201d Don\u010di\u0107 mentioned. \u201cI believe it\u2019ll go each methods. One time it\u2019s going to be him, and one time me. I believe it depends upon how the sport goes.\u201d
The Lakers acquired Don\u010di\u0107 from the Mavs on Feb. 2 in a seismic commerce that despatched Anthony Davis to Dallas.
Don\u010di\u0107 performed in each of the Lakers\u2019 closing two video games earlier than the All-Star break, however he logged solely 47 complete minutes whereas the Lakers eased him again into competitors. Don\u010di\u0107 then bought a number of days of restoration and reset whereas the remainder of the NBA\u2019s prime gamers convened in San Francisco for the All-Star Recreation.
\u201cTruthfully, I used to be getting my thoughts off basketball a bit bit,\u201d Don\u010di\u0107 mentioned. \u201cI\u2019m simply excited to come back again and play. I missed plenty of time. I\u2019ve by no means missed this a lot time, so it was one thing new to me. Now I\u2019m simply excited to get again to play.\u201d
Don\u010di\u0107 received\u2019t have time to dwell on this sluggish begin: The Lakers jumped on a aircraft to Portland after their loss, they usually\u2019ll face the Path Blazers on Thursday earlier than visiting Denver on Saturday.
And the Lakers\u2019 subsequent residence sport? It\u2019s towards the Mavericks on Tuesday.
With the shock of the midseason commerce fading extra every day, Don\u010di\u0107 is raring to look to the long run.
\u201cThis is without doubt one of the biggest golf equipment on the earth, and I\u2019m simply pleased to be right here,\u201d Don\u010di\u0107 mentioned. \u201cClearly, I\u2019m going to want a while, however I\u2019m pleased to signify the Lakers.\u201d
Playoff positioning, the race for Kia MVP and NBA Draft Lottery odds will all come into focus over the following 2 months.<\/span>
Oklahoma Metropolis holds the highest spot and the Prime 10 is generally unchanged after NBA All-Star 2025 in San Francisco.<\/span>
The Lakers star mentioned lingering foot and ankle discomfort hadn't healed to the purpose he was comfy taking part in in Sunday's occasion.<\/span>
Luka Don\u010di\u0107's 1st sport in a Lakers uniform portends particular issues to come back for him, his new staff and the NBA.<\/span>
Playoff positioning, the race for Kia MVP and NBA Draft Lottery odds will all come into focus over the following 2 months.<\/span>
Oklahoma Metropolis holds the highest spot and the Prime 10 is generally unchanged after NBA All-Star 2025 in San Francisco.<\/span>
The Lakers star mentioned lingering foot and ankle discomfort hadn't healed to the purpose he was comfy taking part in in Sunday's occasion.<\/span>
Luka Don\u010di\u0107's 1st sport in a Lakers uniform portends particular issues to come back for him, his new staff and the NBA.<\/span>
Highlighting key gamers to observe as Cleveland visits Brooklyn on Thursday night time.<\/span>
Given his fashion of play, Nuggets coach Mike Malone believes Joki\u0107 can might final within the league at an elite degree for some time.<\/span>
Our day-by-day breakdown of the gamers born on every day of the yr continues. Take a look at the NBA Gamers born on Jan. 9.<\/span>
Our day-by-day breakdown of the gamers born on every day of the yr continues. Take a look at the NBA gamers born on Jan. 8<\/span>
Whereas it's a house sport for the Spurs, it's a homecoming for KD, who will play in Austin for the first time since starring at Texas.<\/span>
With the 2025 playoffs precisely two months away, get caught up on all the important thing storylines because the stretch run begins tonight.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Luka Don\u010di\u0107 couldn\u2019t discover his shot in his third sport with the Lakers, and LeBron James couldn\u2019t make up for it.Greg Beacham | The Related PressLuka Don\u010di\u0107 is 16-for-45 from the sector in his 3 video games with the Lakers, however simply 5-for-24 on 3-point makes an attempt.\u2022\u00a0Get NBA League Pass TODAYLOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-297635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n