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Luka Dončić’s minute restrictions have been lifted, yet the Lakers encountered defeat in their first game following the break.
Los Angeles fell 100-97 at Crypto.com Arena against Charlotte, even with the Slovenian sensation logging more than 33 minutes on the court.
Despite his time, Luka had difficulty finding his shooting touch, finishing with only 14 points on 5-of-18 shooting overall and converting just 1-of-9 from three-point range. Nonetheless, he came close to achieving a triple-double, recording 11 rebounds and eight assists.
In contrast, LeBron James contributed 26 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds, but in the closing seconds, he was unable to make two critical attempts that could have sent the game into overtime.
“Sometimes when a team is adjusting to one another, there’s a tendency to overthink the right way to play and pass up shots,” Lakers coach J.J. Redick remarked after the match against the Hornets. “In those moments, players might struggle to find their rhythm and forget to make that extra pass.”
Miles Bridges was the standout for Charlotte, leading the way with 29 points, while LaMelo Ball added 27 points, six assists, and five rebounds, sinking key free throws in the closing moments. Mark Williams, whose trade to the Lakers was reversed after he failed his medical examination, nearly achieved a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
An unusual performance came from Jusuf Nurkić, who registered eight rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks without scoring any points, making him the first player to achieve such a stat line since 2018.
