NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
• Subscribe to NBA League Pass NOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Dončić struggled to find his rhythm in his third outing with the Los Angeles Lakers, and LeBron James was unable to compensate for it.
However, the Lakers maintain that they aren’t overly concerned following their disappointing 100-97 defeat to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
Dončić recorded 14 points on 5-of-18 shooting, which included a dismal 1-for-9 from beyond the arc. The Slovenian sensation also contributed 11 rebounds and eight assists, but his performance was marred by six turnovers and five fouls during his 33 minutes on the court—his longest stint since his high-profile trade from Dallas.
“It’s clear that it will take some time,” said Dončić. “I was quite rusty today. I started off with four or five turnovers. That’s unacceptable. I just need to play the game the right way.”
The game was undoubtedly frustrating for Dončić, as this was only his third NBA game after being sidelined for over 6 weeks due to a calf strain suffered on Christmas. At times when he managed to score against the Hornets, his reaction displayed a blend of relief and frustration.
In his three games with the Lakers, Dončić has shot 16-for-45 overall, with a troubling 5-for-24 from three-point range—registering just 2-for-16 in his two home games, where fans have eagerly anticipated each shot, only to groan at the misses.
Back-to-back defeats against the struggling Utah and Charlotte teams are disappointing for a squad that had enjoyed a run of 10 victories in 11 games. Nevertheless, the 40-year-old James isn’t concerned about Dončić’s transition into his new role with the Lakers.
“It’s his third game since Christmas, and his third game with us,” James remarked. “He’s still learning our plays. He’s not yet familiar with all the defensive schemes and signals we established since September. We’re trying to expedite this process on the go. He’s recovering from his injury and regaining his form, and we’ll navigate it as a team.”
Despite the setbacks, there were positive aspects to Dončić’s performance against Charlotte, marking the first time his minutes weren’t restricted since his return from injury. He was the top rebounder for Los Angeles, and his plus-13 rating was the best on the team in spite of his turnovers.
“He needs to feel at ease being himself, because he’s one of the world’s elite players,” stated Austin Reaves, whose ejection early in the third quarter coincided with a devastating 18-1 run by the Hornets. “We rely on him to be himself, and it will take several games and maybe weeks to discover the best version of that. But I believe we can sort it out relatively quickly.”
With time running out in the final seconds, Dončić was the one to inbound the ball to James, who missed two critical three-point attempts in the closing moments. Dončić expressed no issues with being out of the spotlight during the game’s final moments.
“He was in a groove, so it makes sense we’d go to him,” Dončić commented. “I believe it will go both ways. Sometimes it will be him, sometimes it will be me—it depends on how the game unfolds.”
The Lakers secured Dončić from the Mavericks on February 2 in a monumental trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas.
Dončić played in the last two games for the Lakers prior to the All-Star break, but totaled just 47 minutes of play as the team gradually reintegrated him. Afterward, he took several days to recuperate while other top NBA players gathered in San Francisco for the All-Star festivities.
“To be honest, I was trying to take my mind off basketball a bit,” Dončić shared. “I’m thrilled to be back on the court. I missed a lot of time—much more than I ever have, so this is all new to me. Now I’m just looking forward to playing again.”
Dončić won’t have the luxury of pondering this slow start: the Lakers headed straight to Portland after their loss and will take on the Trail Blazers on Thursday before visiting Denver on Saturday.
And what’s next at home? A clash with the Mavericks on Tuesday.
As the initial shock of the midseason trade fades, Dončić is eager to focus on what lies ahead.
“This is one of the finest organizations in the world, and I’m delighted to be a part of it,” Dončić said. “Clearly, I’ll need some time, but I’m pleased to represent the Lakers.”
