標籤: Luka

We have bad news for Los Angeles Lakers fans who are hoping that Luka Doncic can return for their semifinal series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Lakers surprised many in the NBA when they were able to overcome injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and defeat the Houston Rockets in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. However, they have an even bigger challenge ahead as they climb into the semi-finals against defending champions Thunder.

Unlike previous rounds, the Lakers will have Reaves available from the start. This is a huge boost for a team that could use all the help they can get against a team they went 0-5 against and lost by an average of 29 points this season. If they have any chance of pulling off another major upset, they need to get their MVP candidate Doncic back on the court.

However, it looks like that is not happening in this series. During a media discussion on Wednesday, the six-time All-Star revealed that when he was originally diagnosed with his Grade 2 hamstring injury, doctors told him it would take eight weeks to recover. This would mean no return during the Western Conference Finals.

The five-time All-NBA player recently talked about receiving platelet-rich plasma treatment in Spain and how he hopes the procedure can speed up his recovery. He has also started running. However, no contact work has been done with them yet.

Oklahoma City’s dominance over the Lakers continued on Tuesday as they won 108-90 in Game 1 of their series.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Sure, LeBron James has turned back the clock in the first two games of the LA Lakers’ opening-round series with the Houston Rockets. But the Lakers’ playoff destiny still hinges on whether Luka Doncic can return and make an impact.

Doncic was ruled out of the remainder of the regular season and playoffs with a Grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2. This is an injury that usually takes four to six weeks to heal. At this point we’re three weeks out. However, great news for the Lakers on Thursday. Doncic was seen going through some light shooting drills at the practice site.

Luka Doncic’s unfortunate hamstring injury may cost him more than he deserves at the annual awards.

After being a good but inconsistent team for most of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA since the beginning of March. After a loss to the Denver Nuggets on March 5, LA won 13 of their next 14, including decisive wins over the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets (twice).

This led to speculation that perhaps the Lakers could be a title contender in 2026. However, all of that was put in jeopardy on Thursday when Doncic suffered a hamstring injury that will now reportedly sideline him for at least the rest of the NBA regular season.

In a year when Doncic is averaging 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists a night, and L.A. is playing so well, he’s positioning himself to win or be considered for several major year-end awards. But injury left him one game short of the 65-game minimum required to be eligible for those honors. However, the 6-time All-Star may miss out on something big this week.

Luka Doncic misses out on super max contract eligibility?

During a new edition of The Craig Carton Show, NBA analyst Tyrone Johnson brought up an interesting point. After being traded to the Lakers last year, Doncic agreed to a new three-year, $160 million contract. Johnson suggested he did so so he could reach the 65-game limit in 2025–26, and assuming he again earned All-NBA first-team honors, he would be eligible for a new super max contract in two summers.

Now, since he’s just shy of the minimum game, that means he won’t be eligible for a super max contract, and will miss out on making $200 million more in his next contract. While Doncic has made a pretty good amount of money during his career, that’s a big chunk of cash to miss out on for a star athlete.

Perhaps that’s why it has been reported that the 27-year-old superstar is planning to apply for the extraordinary circumstances challenge. Since he missed the first two games of the season due to the birth of his second child, he’s hoping the league will make an exception so he can still be eligible for year-end awards and that Super Max deal.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

LOS ANGELES – Lakers star Luka Doncic will serve a one-game suspension for Monday’s game against the Washington Wizards after receiving his 16th technical during Friday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Doncic and Nets guard Ziaire Williams received a double technical with 5:12 remaining in the third quarter. As Williams stepped into his personal space, Doncic lightly patted her back. After this Williams slapped Doncic on the chin.

Doncic immediately took issue with the call, but it’s unclear whether the NBA will overturn his technical. The NBA had already granted Doncic this courtesy after he exchanged words with Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze during Saturday’s game. Afterwards, Doncic told reporters that Bitadze made lewd comments about his family, an allegation that Bitadze denied to ESPN and the Orlando Sentinel. After this, the Lakers appealed against this decision to the NBA.

NBA Insider for Sportsknot. Former NBA writer for NBA.com and USA TODAY, Warriors writer for The Mercury News, Lakers… More about Mark Medina

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers got back into the win column as they closed out their East Coast swing with a road win over the Indiana Pacers. Although the game came closer than necessary down the stretch, there was still a solid performance from the Lakers, led by Luka Doncic, who scored 43 points in the game.

Doncic has been on an absolute heater for the Lakers in recent weeks, and following the Pacers’ win, ESPN NBA insider Dave McMenamin revealed the latest piece of history the star has accomplished.

“Luka Doncic is the first player to average 40 points over a six-game span since Michael Jordan in 1986,” McMenamin reported on Twitter, citing a report by ESPN’s Matt Williams.

In fact, Doncic has been obliterating the competition the last few games for the Lakers, consistently troubling opposing defenses with his step-back threes and other highlight plays.

Los Angeles recently saw its nine-game winning streak end at the hands of the Detroit Pistons earlier this week, but they bounced back in solid fashion on Wednesday, blowing a 20-point lead in the first quarter and eventually allowing Indiana to get back into the game, but things slowly wore off.

The Lakers are now 47-26 on the season, which is good for third place in the Western Conference playoff picture, a spot they are currently in the running for. Los Angeles will now return home for a much easier schedule, with their next two games against the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards.

The Nets game is scheduled to begin at 10:30 PM ET on Friday from Crypto.com Arena.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been on a roll the past few weeks, and it’s largely due to the scoring streak that Luka Doncic continues to put up. In his latest matchup against the Indiana Pacers, Doncic finished with 43 points, and although Rick Carlisle may have been upset, he teased a ray of hope.

“We held him below average against us,” Carlisle said, via Tony East of Forbes Sports.

In two games this season, Doncic has averaged 43.5 points per game against the Pacers. It looks like a win in Carlisle’s eyes, and he knows there’s not much you can do against a player who is in the same position as him right now.

The Pacers have had difficulty getting stops all season, and it shows in their record. One of those reasons is because of the injuries they have had to deal with, and they don’t have the personnel they need in those moments. When they have been healthy enough at times this season, they have shown that they can be competitive, and a good example of that was when they recently beat the Orlando Magic.

With the season the Pacers are having, there’s a good chance they could get the top pick in this year’s draft, and they’ll add back Tyrese Haliburton next season. This is good news for them, and hopefully they can get back to their competitive ways from the last two seasons.

They were also able to add Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline, and although he was sidelined for the rest of this season, he should be a big help next season, especially after they lost Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks last offseason.

The future looks bright for the Pacers, and hopefully they don’t hand over 40 points to Doncic when they get back to the Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers continued their late-season streak by defeating the Indiana Pacers 137-130 on Wednesday night behind another stellar performance from Luka Doncic. The Slovenian star finished with 43 points, seven assists and six rebounds, his league-leading 14th 40-point game of the season.

Setting the pace early, Doncic scored 21 points in the first quarter, his eighth instance of a 20-point span this season, approaching Stephen Curry’s 2015–16 record of 11. He reached 11 consecutive 30-point games, equaling the longest streak in the last 20 years.

The 27-year-old has been historically productive during this period, averaging 40.7 points on the Lakers’ six-game road trip, the first player to average 40 over that span since Michael Jordan in 1986-87. He currently leads the NBA in scoring with 33.6 points per game.

Doncic shot 15 of 30 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free-throw line, including five 40-point games in his last 11 outings.

Los Angeles (47-26) took control of the game early and went on a 10-0 run to lead 45-28 after one quarter. They led by 29 points and entered the fourth quarter ahead 105–85 before Indiana (16–57) made a late push to cut the margin to six in the final minute.

LeBron James contributed 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, while Austin Reaves finished with 25 points and eight assists. Jackson Hayes recorded his first double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Playing without Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart, the Lakers finished the road trip 5-1 and have now won 13 of their last 15 games. They sit in third place in the Western Conference with nine games remaining and next host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

Luke Doncic is arguably the best offensive player in the NBA today. Despite his undeniable skills, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar still receives some criticism from basketball analysts from time to time. However, the criticism Doncic received from Chris Broussard on Tuesday is exactly the same as it was almost a year ago.

During a segment on “First Things First” on Fox Sports 1, Broussard called the 27-year-old guard a ball hog. Popular sports analysts agree that Doncic is one of the league’s greatest players of all-time, but he clarified that he believes the eight-year veteran doesn’t pass the ball well enough.

“[Doncic is] “Hall of Fame ball hog,” Broussard said. “He’s an all-time great ball hog, but he’s a ball hog!”

“He’s a Hall of Fame ball hog. He’s the greatest ball hog of all time, but he’s a ball hog!”

– Chris Broussard on Luka Doncic 🗣️

(via @FTFonFS1)pic.twitter.com/hkHF9bgCRn

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

Broussard said the exact same words on March 25, 2025, almost a year before his statement on Tuesday. Although it’s a new year, the 57-year-old analyst still feels the same way about Doncic.

“Luka Doncic is a ball hog,” Broussard said in March 2025.

“Luka Doncic is a ball hog. A great ball hog. A Hall of Fame ball hog – a future Hall of Famer. An all-time elite ball hog. He’s a ball hog.”

Chris Broussard doesn’t hold back after Lakers’ loss to Magic

(via @FTFonFS1)
pic.twitter.com/ypd91M0I4D

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 25 March 2025

Although Broussard thinks Doncic is a ball hog, the stats tell a different story. In 60 games played so far this season, the six-time All-Star is averaging 8.4 assists per contest. That’s good for third-best in the league behind Nikola Jokic (10.6) and Cade Cunningham (9.9).

Luka Doncic, who tops the league in average assists per game, is also averaging 33.4 points (league leader), 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest. His field goal percentage is 47.4% while shooting 36.4% from beyond the three-point line.

On Saturday, Kevin Durant passed Michael Jordan and is now fifth on the all-time scoring list – a huge accomplishment for the future Hall of Famer and arguably the best pure scorer in NBA history. But the Houston Rockets star is still lagging in scoring points, especially if Monday night is any indication. Despite the Houston Rockets’ 132–124 loss to the Chicago Bulls, Durant once again dominated and recorded 40 points in his team’s failed comeback bid.

Before everything is said and done in Durant’s career, it is very likely that he will also surpass Kobe Bryant’s all-time scoring tally, which would put him in fourth place on the all-time scoring list. If he continues to play at a high level for three more seasons, he could even surpass Karl Malone.

But the Rockets star knows his spot on the all-time scoring list is not secure. In fact, he’s celebrating players like Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards and believes they are on their way to eventually catching him.

“Sooner than that. There’s a lot of people in the way,” Durant said in an appearance on Boardroom Talks. “They hit the same marks I hit that time.”

Indeed, Doncic and Edwards have been scoring machines early in their careers, and they show no signs of slowing down. The former, in particular, has been on a heater lately, even dropping 60 points in a recent win over the Miami Heat.

Now the goal of the next generation is to stay healthy. Soft tissue injuries are more serious than ever. Actually, Edwards is currently suffering from knee problems.

But Durant has missed significant time in his career; He suffered a foot injury during his OKC days, in 2019 he missed the entire 2019-20 season, and he has also faced some injury problems over the past few seasons. But he’s still racking up points – leaving a legacy he hopes will do just that.

“I hope I made the same impact on the game,” Durant said.

There are plenty of stories heading into the final few weeks of the 2025-26 NBA season, but none bigger than the Los Angeles Lakers’ lead in the Western Conference. More importantly, all the talk in Hollywood has focused on Luka Doncic and his MVP campaign that has skyrocketed over the past few weeks.

Can Luka really overtake Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the favorite for MVP heading into the final three weeks of the season?

It seems like the Oklahoma City Thunder star has already been labeled as the MVP favorite since before the All-Star break, and Nikola Jokic was the obvious second choice. But then Jokic suffered a knee injury and the Denver Nuggets took a step back.

Sure, Victor Wembanyama and his success with the San Antonio Spurs have solidified his place in the MVP rankings, but no other player is doing what Doncic is doing right now.

Since the beginning of March, Doncic has averaged 36.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 12 games, while shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and 39.5 percent from 3-point range. Over that span, Luka ranks first in points (442), shots made (150), shots attempted (350), 3-pointers attempted (62), 3-pointers attempted (157), and 30-point games (9).

In addition to all of these individual stats, Luka’s video-game-like numbers have directly led to success for the Lakers, who are 11-1 since the beginning of March and have won nine straight games. The last time the Lakers went on a nine-game winning streak, they captured their 17th championship.

Could history repeat itself with Doncic leading this version of the franchise?

Only time will tell on the championship front, but as far as MVP is concerned, Doncic has put himself firmly back in the mix. The only question is whether it’s too late in the season for the Lakers’ superstar to sway voters.

Well, I’m not voting for MVP this year, but as we approach the final week of ClutchPoints’ MVP rankings, Doncic has firmly put himself back in the top 3 and is being talked about in this year’s race.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: Week 21 | Week 20 | Week 19 | Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | week 1

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder*

Previous ranking: #1

2025-26 season stats: 50 games, 31.6 points, 6.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 55.3 FG%, 39.0 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 5 more games to remain eligible.

Since breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive games with 20-plus points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has twice had a scare of scoring exactly 20 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets. In between those games are two 40-point games.

The Thunder have won 11 consecutive games, the longest active winning streak in the league, and they now lead the Spurs by three games for the top spot in the NBA. Gilgeous-Alexander has left his mark on the Thunder’s success this season, especially given all of his injury concerns.

Despite missing some time before and after the All-Star break, Shai led the Thunder to another remarkable season in the absence of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren on the court consistently. This is another major reason why he will win MVP awards consecutively.

2. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs*

Previous ranking: #3

2025-26 season stats: 56 games, 24.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 blocks, 50.4 FG%, 35.6 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 3 more games to remain eligible.

Victor Vembanyama is on a mission right now. If you don’t believe me, just listen to the guy:

“Right now, I’m taking great care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well,” Wembley recently said about the remainder of the season. “So, I’m just trying to press the gas from now until the end of the season. Really take care of my treatment, take care of my sleep, take care of my routine and perform for my team.”

Well, there you have it. Vembanayama wants to win the MVP award, and he’s putting together a compelling case right now, just like Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic.

In addition to recording at least 20 points and eight rebounds in four of his last five games, Wembanyama has also recorded at least four blocks in three of his last five games. The Spurs star looks like the best two-way player in the league right now, and San Antonio is still just behind Oklahoma City in the West standings, which is enough for Wembley to be No. 2 in the MVP rankings.

3. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers*

Previous ranking: #5

2025-26 season stats: 55 games, 32.8 points, 8.5 assists, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 47.3 FG%, 36.5 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 5 more games to remain eligible.

There are no other words to describe what Luka Doncic is doing right now sensory.

He hasn’t scored below 30 points in nine straight games, and over that span, Doncic has four games with at least 40 points, two games with at least 50 points, and one 60-point performance.

At this point, we can see Doncic getting closer to Bam Adebayo when he scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards. Funnily enough, Luka and the Lakers will see the Wizards on March 30, so who knows?

The Lakers are winning games, Doncic is putting up Wilt-like scoring numbers, and perhaps the most unrecognized area of ​​development for him over the past few weeks what the stats won’t tell you is that Luka has really increased his intensity and physicality on defense.

Doncic has been named Western Conference Player of the Week for several consecutive weeks, and he leads the league with four Player of the Week awards this year. It wouldn’t take long for Luka to win the Western Conference Player of the Month award once March ended.

4. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets*

Previous ranking: #2

2025-26 season stats: 56 games, 28.0 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 57.3 FG%, 38.5 3P%

*A maximum of 1 more game can be missed to remain eligible.

Nikola Jokic has put together a great season. No matter which statistic you look at, he’s tops in the league, and averaging a triple-double for the year is no small feat.

Unfortunately, amid the Denver Nuggets’ struggles as a result of his untimely knee injury and injuries across the board, his MVP stock took a big hit entering the All-Star break and coming out of it for the final stretch run of the season.

While MVP is an individual award and we’ve seen Jokic be a one-man team player at certain times during his career, his turnover rate and overall efficiency have declined over the past month compared to SGA, Wembley and Doncic. Jokic committed 10 turnovers on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, and he is averaging 4.8 turnovers per game in March.

This is not the perfect recipe for winning MVP, and neither is your team significantly below the teams of all three players above you in the MVP rankings.

Previous ranking: #6

2025-26 season stats: 64 games, 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 47.7 FG%, 34.3 3P%

Jayson Tatum may be getting all the attention now that he’s back on the court for the Boston Celtics, but Jaylen Brown is having his best season in the NBA. In all honesty, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him the best two-way wing in basketball right now.

Brown has led the Celtics to a top team in the Eastern Conference in what many thought would be a gap year, and he has averaged career highs in nearly every major statistical category. Lately, Brown has been the main reason for Boston’s success.

Over his last four games, where the Celtics have gone 3-1, Brown has averaged 33.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, while shooting 44.9 percent from the floor and 35.0 percent from 3-point range. He scored 41 points on March 16 against the Phoenix Suns, his sixth 40-point game of the season.

Brown has moved ahead of Cade Cunningham in the MVP rankings after finishing sixth last week as the Detroit Pistons star suffered a collapsed lung and is expected to miss a significant amount of time, making him ineligible for the award.

just missing the cut

6. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons [Ranked No. 4 last week]*

7. Jalen Johnson – Atlanta Hawks [Ranked No. 10 last week]

8. Kevin Durant – Houston Rockets [Ranked No. 8 last week]

9. Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers [Ranked No. 9 last week]

10. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves [Ranked No. 7 last week]

*Signals players are in danger of meeting the 65-game minimum threshold for awards/accolades.

Recently, the NBA announced it would void a technical foul on Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic during the team’s win over the Orlando Magic over the weekend. The technical foul would have been Doncic’s 16th incident of the year, which would have required an automatic suspension, but Doncic’s post-game clarification about the technical foul may have played a role in the league’s decision to void it.

One person who doesn’t agree with the league’s decision is former NBA great DeMarcus Cousins, who recently went on FanDuel’s “Run It Back” show to express his thoughts.

“My issue is not with Luka Doncic. … If it’s Draymond Green, he’s not getting canceled,” Cousins, formerly of Run It Back on X, claimed on Twitter.

Indeed, Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green has gained quite a reputation as an argumentative player with referees, the other team, and sometimes with his Warriors teammates. This certainly plays a role in his perception, although some have argued that it actually works in the opposite way and gives the star long leeway when it comes to arguing with officials during games.

Doncic, meanwhile, is known to be a frequent complainer in his own right, facing heavy criticism from fans and pundits for his frequent scathing criticisms of referees, which often comes at the expense of playing defense or getting back in transition. However, Saturday’s case was a little different, as the technical foul originated from an interaction between Doncic and Magic big man Goga Bidaatje, with Doncic later claiming that Bidaatje booed his family, which led to the altercation.

In any case, Lakers fans are certainly happy that the technical foul was canceled and Doncic will be able to prepare for Monday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons, in which Los Angeles will try for its tenth consecutive win.

The Los Angeles Lakers have appealed Luka Doncic’s 16th technical foul following an exchange with the Orlando Magic’s Gogo Bitadze during their 105-104 win, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. Luca’s technical foul occurred when he was assessed a double technical for continuously taunting both players.

If the call is upheld, Doncic will face a one-game suspension against the Detroit Pistons. This could interrupt the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak at a critical moment.

Luka Doncic admitted disappointment but said Gogo Bitadze had crossed a line. Meanwhile, the Lakers argue that a warning should have come earlier, although officials say a warning had already been issued.

Despite all this, Doncic finished with 33 points and eight assists against the Magic.

Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze landed on Luka Doncic’s bad side. He and the Los Angeles Lakers star got into a heated moment that led to Doncic’s suspension. But an explanation also came from the big man of magic.

Doncic claimed that Bitadze told him he would “abandon my family” for which he had called him out.

“He (Goga) said he would kill my entire family. And at some point, I can’t bear it. I have to stand up for myself.”

Luka Doncic speaks on what was said about his technical foul 😳

pic.twitter.com/9j8nhnZdjM https://t.co/XQM5QY8BbS

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 22 March 2026

However, Bitadze cleared up the situation after Doncic told his side of the story, which the Magic star shared via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

Bitadze said, “He said some inappropriate things in Serbian. I have played in Serbia and I understand.” “I don’t know if he knew I understood what he said, so I said it back. It was nothing towards his family or anyone else. His family, I really, really respect them.”

Magic’s Goga Bitadze continues his reaction to Luka Doncic

Bitadze continued to explain why he reacted the way he did in that moment.

Bitadze said, “He said something about my mother that was really inappropriate. We don’t say those things. … So whatever he said to me about my mother, I said the same thing and said it back. That was it.”

But he also said he has no animosity toward Doncic.

“I have total respect for Luca and what he’s done. I really respect everybody’s family. Where I come from, it’s really pure and we really respect each other’s families. I would never say that outright.”

Bitadze scored nine points in 18 minutes, while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists.

The Los Angeles Lakers escaped with a 105-104 win against the Orlando Magic, courtesy of Luke Kennard’s game-winning 3-point shot. But the game could cost them as they travel to face the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Luka Doncic committed his 16th technical foul of the season, triggering an automatic suspension unless it is overturned, something Lakers head coach JJ Redick is hoping will happen.

After the Lakers’ win against the Magic, Redick revealed what caused Doncic’s technical foul and why the team plans to appeal it with the league.

“We’ll obviously try to cancel it out,” Redick said during his postgame press conference. “There were some things that were said in reference to Luca’s mother in a language that the referee could not understand.”

Doncic also explained the situation, noting that Goga Bitadze crossed a line when he said he should have done better for his teammates.

“You know, I let my team down by getting that last one. But honestly, I wasn’t trying to do that,” Doncic said. “He said if we don’t do it, he’ll kill my whole family. And at some point, you know, it’s a basketball court. At some point, I can’t stand it anymore [by]I have to stand up for myself. But I know I have to do better. My teammates, I know they support me. So I disappointed them today.”

“He (Goga) said he would kill my entire family. And at some point, I can’t bear it. I have to stand up for myself.”

Luka Doncic speaks on what was said about his technical foul 😳

pic.twitter.com/9j8nhnZdjM https://t.co/XQM5QY8BbS

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 22 March 2026

If the technical foul is not cleared, the Lakers will be without their star as they take on the Eastern Conference leading team. Doncic’s interactions with referees have been a topic of discussion throughout the season. According to the NBA rulebook, Doncic will be suspended for every two technicals picked up after 16. The Lakers have 12 regular season games remaining.

Once the playoffs begin, the technical foul count is reset, but the suspension trigger is set to seven.

Doncic’s condition has deteriorated amid technical problems. He has propelled himself right into the middle of the MVP race with the Lakers holding the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Their win against the Magic was their ninth consecutive, and they extended their lead over the No. 4 seed Houston Rockets to three games.

Doncic finished with 33 points, giving him the NBA’s longest active streak of scoring 30 or more points in consecutive games.

Coming into Saturday’s game, Doncic had appeared in 58 games at a rate of just over 35 minutes per game. He averaged a league-leading 33.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.6 steals with splits of 47.7 percent shooting from the field, 37 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 77.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

He also led the NBA in shot attempts at 22.5, 3-point shots at 4.0, 3-point shots at 10.8 and free throw attempts at 10.4.

As the Lakers now head to Detroit, they will wait to see if the NBA will take action after what was revealed about how the entire situation erupted.

Lakers star Luka Doncic will be out for the team’s next game against the East-leading Detroit Pistons. Doncic received his 16th technical foul of the year, meaning he faces a mandatory one-game suspension.

It looked like Luka Doncic and Goga Bitadze were exchanging words while Luka was shooting FT at the end of 3Q.

Another back-and-forth followed before both of them got up. https://t.co/gNBAwHYAAh pic.twitter.com/wAuNxxtzwl

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 22 March 2026

A technical foul occurred after an exchange of words between Doncic and Magic big man Goga Bitadze in the third quarter. Technical fouls were assessed on both players, placing Doncic on the number requiring suspension.

Although the technicality may have been overturned by the NBA, the moment draws attention to the conversation that has taken place between the six-time All-Stars throughout the season. Doncic has committed several technical fouls for arguing with officials, including in the Lakers’ 120–113 loss to the Denver Nuggets on March 5.

In post-game comments obtained by the Los Angeles Times, Doncic was clear about how he felt about the technical and advocated for a level of fairness in the officiating of the game.

“Just because I yelled at him, I guess. That’s what he said,” Doncic said of his moment with referee Ed Malloy on March 5. “But I heard three other players say the exact same sentence and I didn’t get a technical. And that’s my problem, you know, I was trying not to talk at all. That’s the first thing I said – no warning or anything.”

Doncic’s suspension is significant as the Lakers look to test their status as contenders against the red-hot Detroit Pistons, who recently made the NBA playoffs for the second consecutive season.

随着洛杉矶湖人队在赛季末继续保持强劲势头，ESPN 分析师斯蒂芬·A·史密斯 (Stephen A. Smith) 概述了卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 作为 MVP 合法竞争者的令人信服的理由。

史密斯在斯蒂芬·A·史密斯秀上发表讲话时指出了东契奇在湖人队目前八连胜期间的历史性表现，强调了他的得分稳定性和整体影响力。

“你知道卢卡·东契奇场均40.9分和7.4次助攻吗？你知道他在这八场比赛中所做的事情是湖人队历史上从未做过的吗？沙奎尔·奥尼尔、科比·布莱恩特、魔术师约翰逊都没有。没有人……卢卡在过去两场比赛中得到了100分。在这八连胜的每场比赛中，他都得到了至少30分。这不像他一天拿下 50 分，另一天拿下 20 分，不，他每场比赛都得分超过 30 分。”

东契奇最近的表现是本赛季最具统治力的表现之一。在战胜迈阿密热火队的比赛中，他爆发了 60 分、7 个篮板、5 次抢断和 3 次助攻，同时在场上和三分线外投篮高效。这次出战突显了他在保持效率的同时接管比赛的能力。

在湖人队的八连胜中，东契奇场均出战37.5分钟，得到40.9分、8.9个篮板、7.4次助攻和2.4次抢断，投篮命中率为50.2%，三分命中率为42.2%，罚球命中率为78%。

史密斯还强调了东契奇整个赛季的表现以及他在联盟中表现最好的球员之一。

“与此同时，自交易截止日以来，洛杉矶湖人队的三分球命中率为38.5%。卢卡以33.4分领先联盟，助攻排名第三。女士们先生们，他是联盟MVP候选人。我再说一遍，卢卡东契奇是联盟MVP候选人。谢伊·吉尔吉斯-亚历山大、杰伦·布朗、维克托·温班亚马和卢卡·东契奇位列前四。联盟 MVP 的候选人。”

“卢卡·东契奇场均贡献 40.9 分和 7.4 次助攻……他在这 8 场比赛中所做的一切，是湖人历史上从未做过的。沙奎尔·奥尼尔、科比·布莱恩特、魔术师约翰逊都没有。没有人……他是联盟 MVP 候选人。”

— 斯蒂芬·A·史密斯🙌pic.twitter.com/CH6gldgfBJ

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 3 月 21 日

尽管湖人队早期表现不稳定，但斯蒂芬·A·史密斯仍力挺卢卡·东契奇获得 MVP

在本赛季的58场比赛中，这位27岁的球员场均得到33.4分、8.4次助攻、7.9个篮板和1.6次抢断，投篮命中率为47.7%，三分命中率为37%，罚球命中率为77.2%。

史密斯承认东契奇获得 MVP 的机会可能会受到湖人队早期不稳定的影响，但他坚持认为他目前的表现水平很难被忽视。

“他很可能不会赢得比赛，因为湖人队今年连续 40 场比赛打出 0.500 的篮球，我明白了。但我们从他身上看到的是闻所未闻的。而且他的兄弟看起来像蜗牛一样慢。这就是让我烦恼的事情。尼古拉·约基奇无法跳到丹佛的路边，没有人可以阻止他。卢卡·东契奇大多数时候看起来都在慢动作，没有人可以阻止他当三人打的时候……他在三人面前毫无防备，到底是什么让他被三人击中呢？”

他最后阐述了东契奇的表现对西部联盟前景的更广泛影响。

“这是我们看到的一些特殊的东西。因此，我们必须以稍微不同的方式看待西部联盟并扪心自问，湖人队是否可以被视为西部联盟中真正的威胁？俄克拉荷马城可能会说是。圣安东尼奥和维克多·温巴纳亚马可能会说是。我不知道我们是否能做到这一点……在卢卡这样的情况下不行。”

湖人队 (45-25) 将在太平洋时间周六下午 4:00 在 NBA TV 上客场挑战奥兰多魔术队 (38-31) 时将连胜扩大到九场。

As the Los Angeles Lakers continue their lead late in the season, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has outlined a compelling case for Luka Doncic as a legitimate MVP contender.

The Stephen A. Speaking on The Smith Show, Smith pointed to Doncic’s historic production during the Lakers’ current eight-game winning streak, highlighting both his scoring consistency and overall impact.

“Do you know that Luka Doncic is averaging 40.9 points and 7.4 assists? Do you know what he has done in this eight-game span, which no Lakers player in history has ever done? Not Shaquille O’Neal, not Kobe Bryant, not Magic Johnson. No one… Luka has 100 points in his last two games. In each game of this eight-game winning streak, he has scored at least 30. Not so Whether he scores 50 one day and 20 the next day, no, he is consistently scoring 30-plus in every single game.”

Doncic’s recent performances include one of his most impressive performances of the season. In the win over the Miami Heat, he scored 60 points while adding seven rebounds, five steals and three assists while shooting efficiently from the field and beyond the arc. The outing underlined his ability to take over games while maintaining efficiency.

On the Lakers’ eight-game winning streak, Doncic is averaging 40.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game, while shooting 50.2 percent from the field, 42.2 percent from three-point range and 78 percent from the free-throw line in 37.5 minutes per contest.

Smith also emphasized Doncic’s season-long production and where he ranks among the league’s top performers.

“Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are hitting 38.5% of their three-pointers since the trade deadline. Luka leads the league in scoring with 33.4, he’s third in assists. Ladies and gentlemen, he’s a league MVP candidate. I’ll say it again, Luka Doncic is a league MVP candidate. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, Victor Wembayama and Luka “Doncic tops four candidates for league MVP.”

“Luka Doncic averaged 40.9 points and 7.4 assists… What he’s done in this 8-game span is something no Laker in history has ever done. Not Shaquille O’Neal, not Kobe Bryant, not Magic Johnson. No one… He’s a league MVP candidate.”

-Stephen A. Smith 🙌pic.twitter.com/CH6gldgfBJ

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 21 March 2026

Stephen A. Smith pushes Luka Doncic’s MVP case despite Lakers’ early inconsistency

Through 58 games this season, the 27-year-old has averaged 33.4 points, 8.4 assists, 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 47.7 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 77.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Smith acknowledged that Doncic’s MVP chances may be affected by the Lakers’ past inconsistency, but said his current level of play is difficult to ignore.

“The possibility that he won’t win it because the Lakers have played .500 basketball for 40 games this year, I get that. But what we’re seeing from them is unheard of. And the guy looks slow as a snail out there. That’s the thing that bothers me. Nikola Jokic can’t jump over a curb for Denver and no one can stop him. Luka Doncic looks like he’s moving in slow motion most of the time and No one can stop him. And when all three of them were clicking… he was insecure in front of all three of them, what are all three of them making of him?

He concluded by outlining the widespread impact of Doncic’s play on the Western Conference’s outlook.

“It’s some special things we’re looking at. And as a result, we have to look at the Western Conference a little differently and ask ourselves, can the Lakers be written off as a real threat in the Western Conference? Oklahoma City would probably say yes. San Antonio with Victor Vembanayama would probably say yes. I don’t know if we can do that … not with Luka on a roll like this.”

The Lakers (45-25) will try to extend their winning streak to nine games when they visit the Orlando Magic (38-31) on Saturday at 4:00 pm PT on NBA TV.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith offered to gift Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Luka Doncic a mile after noting the veteran guard as one of the few NBA players worthy of winning this year’s MVP award. The Lakers extended their winning streak to eight with a 134-126 win against the Miami Heat. Doncic scored a season-high 60 points on Thursday, which could be the deciding factor for the veteran media personality’s list of Most Valuable Players this year.

Still, Smith was embarrassed to admit that Doncic was not among his favorites to win MVP, but that changed after Luka’s 60-point game, according to ESPN’s First Take.

“I’m ashamed that I didn’t bring Luka up for MVP consideration before this morning. That ends now,” Smith said. “It’s been fixed right now. Luka Doncic has been sensational. The Los Angeles Lakers have been incredibly impressive on an eight-game winning streak. He’s scored over 30 in each of those games. He’s scored 100 in the last two games.”

Given Doncic’s recent offensive performance, combining for 100 points in his last two contests, he is strengthening his case for MVP in the final hour of the regular season, as reported by Stephen A. Smith.

“Who deserves it more than Luka, given what he’s doing? He’s leading the league in scoring. The Los Angeles Lakers are winning as a top 3 seed in the Western Conference,” Smith said. They’re winning basketball games. He’s leading, and he has a guy in LeBron James, who is on the Mount Rushmore of basketball — still playing like an All-Star caliber player.

“And that has to be different because Luka is so great — he’s so unstoppable. At some point, you just have to announce it, and right now, we have to announce it right here on First Take that Luka Doncic — the guy that the Dallas Mavericks traded away for Anthony Davis, another player, Christie and a pick. The same Luka Doncic in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform is a top candidate for league MVP honors,” Smith concluded.

The Lakers have won 12 of their last 13 games.

Draymond Green’s opinion on Luka Doncic, LeBron James pairing

Warriors veteran Draymond Green weighed in on Luka Doncic, LeBron James and the Lakers’ chances of winning a championship this season. Given the Lakers’ recent surge, which has led them to the third-best record in the Western Conference (45-25), momentum is undoubtedly on their side heading into the playoffs.

For Green, the Lakers are led by Doncic and James good handsAs he mentioned on The Draymond Green Show.

“Luka is playing absolutely incredible,” Green said. “The irony is that the Lakers are playing absolutely incredible. The irony is that DeAndre Ayton is playing better; the irony is that Marcus Smart is playing better. Because that’s the magic of Luka Doncic. Luka makes everybody around him better at the top of their game. So, you ask yourself, how dangerous can they be in the playoffs?

“And part of me wants to say that’s not dangerous at all, but the other side of me knows better. You’ve got Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the court at the same time. You always have a chance against anybody.”

Draymond Green likely to be a real contender on the Lakers:

“You ask yourself how dangerous they can be during the playoffs, besides me I want to say not dangerous at all but the other side of me knows better. You put Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the court at the same time… pic.twitter.com/kYEsPPMj43

– NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) 20 March 2026

Amidst the competitive Western Conference led by the defending champion Thunder, the Lakers are slowly joining the picture of championship contenders.

Luka Doncic lit up the scoreboard with 60 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 134-126 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday. The win was LA’s eighth in a row, and Doncic looks incredibly pleased with the way things are going in his latest post on Instagram.

The 27-year-old guard shared a post that included eight images and a short video showcasing the before, during and after of his 60-point performance. He also shared a 10-word caption that emphasized his excitement about the Lakers’ eight-game winning streak.

“Win 8 in a row,” Doncic said. “Takes a team. Let’s go!”

Thursday’s win over the Heat was the third time in Luka Doncic’s career that he scored 60 or more points in a single contest. He scored a career-high 73 points in January 2024, and he also scored 60 points in December 2022. Doncic is also the first Lakers player to score at least 60 points since Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Out” farewell game in 2016.

The eight-year veteran was a man of passion against Miami. In addition to his 60 points, Doncic also recorded seven rebounds, three assists and five steals. He also hit 60.0% of his field goal attempts while going 9 for 17 from beyond the three-point line. Luka Doncic has scored 100 points in his last two appearances.

We’ll see Doncic and the Lakers take the court again on Saturday when they take on the Orlando Magic. Los Angeles will attempt to win its ninth consecutive game. If the club can stay hot in the final stretch of the regular season, LA could enter the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

Despite having one of the best seasons of his impressive career, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is not receiving serious MVP consideration this year. His coach explained the reason: saying the quiet part out loud.

Thursday night, Doncic once again showed why he truly is a special talent on the offensive side of the ball. In the Lakers’ 134-126 win over the Miami Heat, the six-time All-Star scored 60 points. It’s the second time he’s scored 60 — but it’s a far cry from the 73 he scored in a game against the Atlanta Hawks two years ago.

His latest offensive outburst comes a day after scoring 40 in a win over the Houston Rockets and a week after a 51-point night in a win against the Chicago Bulls. Still, these are not the results of a few weeks of heated play. Doncic has been the NBA’s best offensive player all year.

Doncic currently leads the NBA in points per game (33.4) after averaging a league leading 35.8 minutes per night. The 27-year-old also ranks second in made threes (4.0) and free throws (7.9) and third in assists (8.9). There is no better player on offense in the NBA, and with the Lakers in third place in the Western Conference, Doncic seems worthy of MVP consideration.

However, as we approach the final few weeks of the regular season, the Slovenian doesn’t appear to be in the conversation for the award with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown, Victor Wembanyama and Cade Cunningham.

Is Luka Doncic’s reputation for complaining ruining his MVP chances?

Lakers head coach JJ Redick explains why Luka Doncic isn’t featured more prominently in MVP discussions: “Because he complains to the refs, I don’t know”
By u/oat38 in the nba

After Doncic’s 60-point night, Lakers head coach JJ Redick was asked by a reporter why his top star does not appear in the NBA MVP discussion. His one simple response was saying the quiet part out loud. “Because he complains to the refs? I don’t know,” Redick said.

Redick’s nervousness is understandable, but Luka Doncic’s night arguing with the refs seemed to be at an annoying extreme and has been a topic of conversation during the season. Additionally, he has been the focus of several viral videos this season regarding his complete lack of effort on defense.

Still, is his offense and defensive effort still enough to warrant NBA MVP consideration given the kind of numbers he’s posting on offense? It will be interesting to see how the final votes look in a month.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Los Angeles Lakers are doing great these days and they are led by Luka Doncic and his brilliant play. In their latest win against the Miami Heat, Doncic finished with 60 points, and it looked like he accomplished it with ease. His 60th point did not come until 14.8 seconds remained in the game when he was at the free-throw line.

The last time a Lakers player scored 60 points was Kobe Bryant in his last game, and funnily enough, he also scored his 60th point at the free-throw line with 14.8 seconds left.

Kobe and Luka both scored their 60th points with 14.8 points left in the fourth 🤯 https://t.co/EiUVwJuF2a pic.twitter.com/kP1lMmSfD7

– NBA (@NBA) 20 March 2026

It’s always nice when you’re in the same company with Bryant, and few players have had that honor over the past two weeks. As long as Doncic is on the Lakers, there’s a good chance for him to be in the same conversation as Bryant for some stats that no one except ESPN knows about.

Doncic has been in scoring position the last few games, and it has lifted the Lakers up and separated them from other teams in the Western Conference. Whether it’s a high-scoring game or a game-winner, Doncic has come through for the Lakers in what has possibly been their most important stretch of the season.

If he continues to play like this, it will help the team make more room among the others trying to reach the No. 3 seed. They are currently 45-25 and have a two-game lead against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are the No. 4 seed.

There’s no doubt that Doncic and the Lakers are moving at the right time, and they could be a team that many will want to avoid when the playoffs arrive. In the last two seasons they were eliminated in the first round, but things could be different this season.

The Los Angeles Lakers had every reason to take it easy in Thursday night’s game against the Miami Heat, especially coming off a tough game in Houston the night before. But Luka Doncic did not let the Lakers lose.

The Lakers arrived in Miami at 5 a.m. following a tough win against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reeves were questionable to play, but they ended up playing in the contest. It was the Slovenian guard who dominated the night en route to a big win for the Lakers.

Luka Doncic finished Thursday’s game with 60 points, seven rebounds, three assists and five steals, while shooting 18-of-30 from the field, 9-of-17 from three and 15-of-19 from the free throw line.

According to Stathead, this is the first time in NBA history that a player has recorded at least 60 points, at least nine three-pointers and at least five steals in a game.

Luka Doncic tonight vs. Heat:

60 points
9 3-pointers
5 theft

The first player in NBA history to record such a statline. pic.twitter.com/5GKEfV0Hbe

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 20 March 2026

Doncic recorded 12 points in the opening quarter, nine points in the second, 19 points in the third and 20 points in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers defeated the Heat 134-126, and Doncic’s Lakers teammates gave him some much-needed help. LeBron James recorded a 19-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in the win, while Austin Reaves added 18 points and Marcus Smart scored 13 points.

It marked Doncic’s third career game of at least 60 points and his first since scoring 73 points as a member of the Dallas Mavericks in 2024. This marked the ninth time in Doncic’s career that he has scored at least 50 points in a game.

Luka Doncic continued his high-scoring onslaught over the past few days, exploding 60 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 134-126 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday at Kasia Center.

Doncic was coming off a breakout season of 40 points in their win over the Houston Rockets, 124-116, at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, but the busy schedule hasn’t stopped him from getting frantic again.

He was efficient against the Heat, shooting 18 of 30 from the field, including 9 of 17 shots from long range. He made 15 of 19 shots from the free-throw stripe.

After Doncic’s heroic performance, which was the second-highest output of his career, fans couldn’t help but bring up, or should we say, put down, Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game against the Washington Wizards.

“The Lakers’ Luka Doncic’s 60-point competitive game was far more impressive than the Heat’s Bam Adebayo’s 83 points in a meaningless game. Imagine if Luka had made 13 more field goals, five of them threes, and 24 more free throws? Come on,” @das_187 said.

@Gunsmoke__Q echoed, “Bam Adebayo scores 83 on Wizards, Luka scores 60 on Heat.”

@TomBrady80 said, “If Adebayo had shot as efficiently as Luka, he would have had 100+ points.”

“Luka just showed Adebayo what it was like,” @_SayParlay_ posted.

@BallinKP8 commented, “Luka Bam showing Adebayo how to properly put up a significant amount of points straight in his face. #thatsforkobe.”

The hate train continues for Adebayo to have a career night. Recall, he made 23 of 43 shots from the field, including 7 of 22 from long distance. He went 36-of-43 from the free-throw line. The Heat won 150–129.

Many, including Michael Jordan, congratulated Adebayo for his historic performance.

But on Thursday, he was on the receiving end of Doncic’s outstanding performance, and of course, Adebayo, who had 28 points and 10 rebounds, respected it.

Luka Doncic has been on a crazy spree the past two games. The Los Angeles Lakers star has outpaced his team this season, and it was evident in LA’s latest games. Doncic nearly had a triple-double with 40 points before scoring a season-high 60 points against the Miami Heat. With LA on the verge of clinching a playoff berth, Doncic is doing everything he can to get LA into the postseason.

After his outstanding 60 points against the Heat, Doncic was asked about his performance. The Lakers star credited his hot streak to his shooting and his slashing to create opportunities for himself and his teammates.

“Yeah, I feel like my three-ballers are going good, and then I’m attacking the paint a lot,” Doncic said in response to a question, according to Spectrum Sportsnet. “So just trying to read the game.”

Doncic’s stellar performance isn’t limited to his last two games. Over the past two weeks, Doncic has averaged an incredible 40.9 points per game in eight games. In those eight games, the Lakers star is shooting 42.2% from three-point range. He’s also adding 8.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. Against the Heat, Doncic also showed his defensive improvement by making five steals, increasing his average to 2.4 steals per game in eight games.

With the win over the Heat, the Lakers continued to tighten their grip on the third seed in the Western Conference. Chasing giants like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs is almost impossible now, but that’s OK. Now, the Lakers aim to retain home-court advantage at least in the first round. They have a two-game lead over the fourth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves and a three-game lead over the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets.

As for Doncic, the Slovenian superstar is gunning for his first MVP award in his NBA career. He is averaging 33.4 points per game on 47.7% shooting from the field and 37% shooting from deep this season, while also adding 8.4 assists and 7.9 rebounds. The Lakers are just seven games away from meeting the required number of games played to qualify for the star awards.

Luka Doncic has been in another world for some time now, but the Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard is still human.

During a break in Thursday’s game and between his scoring explosion in South Beach against the Miami Heat, Doncic was seen on camera looking tired on the bench, and it seemed use foul language To explain how tired he was during that moment.

The way Doncic played against Miami, he had every right to feel and show that he was tired.

For one, it was the second night of a back-to-back set, and Doncic was also coming off a 40-point performance in Wednesday’s road win against the Houston Rockets. After a short turnaround and a trip to Miami on rest, the former NBA scoring champion somehow had enough energy to torch the Heat for 60 points.

Luka Doncic shot 18 for 30 from the field and hit nine of his 17 attempts from behind the arc, while recording seven rebounds, five steals and three assists in 38 minutes.

The 27-year-old Doncic is in some mysterious form right now, as he’s averaging 45.3 points on incredible efficiency over the last three Lakers games. Over that span, he shot 53.7 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from 3-point territory.

As for the Lakers, they extended their winning streak to eight games and are undefeated in three contests on their current road trip, which will take them to Orlando on Saturday when they face the Orlando Magic.

The Lakers are in third place in the Western Conference standings with a 45–25 record.

The NBA MVP conversation has primarily revolved around last season’s winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, three-time recipient Nikola Jokic and Defensive Player of the Year favorite Victor Wembanyama, but Luka Doncic is forcing voters to accept his candidacy. The five-time All-NBA First-Team selection has been amazing as the Los Angeles Lakers continue their eight-game winning streak. Perhaps his latest masterpiece will make people reevaluate their awards chances.

A day after scoring 40 points against the Houston Rockets, Doncic paced the Miami Heat with 60 points on 18-of-30 shooting in a 134-126 road win on Thursday. Despite the team’s late arrival to South Beach (or early, depending on who you ask), the 27-year-old guard displayed the best offense he has to offer. He also totaled seven rebounds and five steals, showing his continued impact on the court.

Amid a spectacular March in which he scored 327 points over an eight-game span, Doncic is raising an important question. Why isn’t he getting more attention in the MVP race? Lakers head coach JJ Redick replied.

“Because he complains to the refs, I don’t know,” he said in the postgame press conference, according to the NBA Courtside X account. One might speculate that Redic might be being sarcastic, but it’s not so absurd to think that Doncic’s reactionary behavior earns him a certain level of support from fans and writers.

JJ Redick was asked why Luka isn't talked about more in MVP talks:

"Because he complains to the refs, Idk." pic.twitter.com/wY7Ep541zL

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) March 20, 2026

The 2023-24 scoring champion is one of the worst offenders when it comes to irritating the officials about no-calls. Instead of creating ruckus in the court, he will repeatedly argue his point heatedly. Doncic has improved in this area recently, but he remains under intense scrutiny due to his many blowups.

However, if he maintains his current level throughout the remainder of the campaign, even an ill-timed expression of emotion may not be enough to rule him out. Doncic was averaging an NBA-leading 33.0 points a game with 8.5 assists, 7.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals entering Thursday’s contest with the Heat. He’s shooting 36.6 percent from 3-point range, burying opponents with a step-back jumper that seems unstoppable at times.

Most importantly, No. 77’s stellar numbers are carrying his team forward. The Lakers are currently in third place in the Western Conference with a 45–25 record. If they continue to win games, Luka Doncic may have a legitimate chance to snatch the MVP crown from Gilgeous-Alexander’s head.

在见证伟大的一周多后，巴姆·阿德巴约和迈阿密热火队发现自己成为了一场高分比赛的接收端。在对阵洛杉矶湖人队的比赛中，阿德巴约和热火队完全无法阻止巨星卢卡·东契奇为所欲为。东契奇全场得到60分，投篮命中率60%，三分命中率52.9%。

赛后，阿德巴约谈到了东契奇的表现。这位热火球星表示东契奇投出了一些艰难的投篮，并表示他们唯一能做的就是向这位湖人球星致敬。

据 ClutchPoints 的扎克·温伯格 (Zach Weinberger) 报道，阿德巴约说：“他在那里打出了一些艰难的投篮。” “我知道处于那种模式下是什么感觉。正如人们所看到的，达到 80 岁并不容易……你要脱帽致敬并继续努力。”

热火队只是东契奇令人难以置信的连续热火的最新受害者。东契奇在进攻上采取了平衡的方式，既依靠三分球，也依靠攻击油漆区。这位湖人队球星 17 次三分球出手 9 次，19 次罚球命中 15 次。东契奇整个晚上都让迈阿密防守队的生活变成了人间地狱。

尽管东契奇表现出色，热火队还是在与湖人队的比赛中打成了一场势均力敌的比赛。首节结束，热火队以42-29领先，半场结束时领先7分。湖人队在第三节奋起反击，重新取得领先。勒布朗·詹姆斯为洛杉矶队拿下 19 分、15 个篮板和 10 次助攻的三双数据。

阿德巴约拿下热火队最高的28分和10个篮板。距离这位明星中锋在对阵华盛顿奇才队的比赛中拿下历史性的 83 分仅剩几天。自从阿德巴约创纪录的表现以来，热火队战绩为1胜3负。

在見證偉大的一周多後，巴姆·阿德巴約和邁阿密熱火隊發現自己成為了一場高分比賽的接收端。在對陣洛杉磯湖人隊的比賽中，阿德巴約和熱火隊完全無法阻止巨星盧卡·東契奇為所欲為。東契奇全場拿下60分，投籃命中率60%，三分球命中率52.9%。

賽後，阿德巴約談到了東契奇的表現。這位熱火球星表示東契奇投出了一些艱難的投籃，並表示他們唯一能做的就是向這位湖人球星致敬。

據 ClutchPoints 的 Zach Weinberger 報道，阿德巴約說：“他在那裡打出了一些艱難的投籃。” “我知道處於那種模式下是什麼感覺。正如人們所看到的，達到 80 歲並不容易……你要脫帽致敬並繼續努力。”

熱火隊只是東契奇令人難以置信的連續熱火的最新受害者。東契奇在進攻上採取了平衡的方式，既依靠三分球，也依靠攻擊油漆區。這位湖人隊球星 17 次三分球出手 9 次，19 次罰球命中 15 次。東契奇整個晚上都讓邁阿密防守隊的生活變成了人間地獄。

儘管東契奇表現出色，熱火隊還是在與湖人隊的比賽中打成了一場勢均力敵的比賽。首節結束，熱火以42-29領先，半場結束時領先7分。湖人隊在第三節奮起反擊，重新取得領先。勒布朗詹姆斯為洛杉磯隊拿下 19 分、15 個籃板和 10 次助攻的三雙數據。

阿德巴約拿下熱火隊最高的28分和10個籃板。距離這位明星中鋒在對陣華盛頓巫師隊的比賽中拿下歷史性的 83 分僅剩幾天。自從阿德巴約創紀錄的表現以來，熱火戰績為1勝3負。

LeBron James has embarrassed Father Time time and again over the past several years, but the 41-year-old defied all logic in Thursday’s 134-126 win against the Miami Heat. After back-to-back wins against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center, the Los Angeles Lakers arrived in South Beach around 4 p.m. local time. Athletes need their sleep, especially when they have back-to-back games, and especially when they are in their 23rd NBA season.

However, the greatest player of all time showed no effect of the small change. He scored 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting with 15 rebounds and 10 assists, his 124th career triple-double. Luka Doncic was the best player on the night, leading the Heat with an impressive 60 points, but James’ huge contributions should also be highlighted. The Slovenian superstar made sure to do so while showing great appreciation to his teammate.

“Like I said yesterday, you know without him, we’re not going to win,” Doncic told Spectrum SportsNet’s Mike Trudell. “So the way he’s playing, he’s incredible to watch and incredible to watch.”

60 PIECE. 😴🔥

Mike Trudell caught up with Luka Dončić after his 60-point performance. pic.twitter.com/kgP3rWrbdM

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 20, 2026

When the Lakers struggled to maintain momentum from December to February, some people pointed fingers at James. Many NBA fans believe that the four-time Finals MVP’s defensive limitations will prevent the Lakers from advancing in the NBA Playoffs. The team is performing incredibly well right now, however, winning eight consecutive games and sitting in third place in the West.

Now that Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves are all healthy, LA looks like a real championship contender. The biggest member of that trio is actually a big reason why the Lakers have achieved such a position in the latter half of the regular season.

James will continue to let Doncic take the lead offensively, but when the opportunity arises, he will do his best to spark the offense as both a scorer and playmaker. The atmosphere in Los Angeles has surprisingly matched the team’s excellent form.

The Purple and Gold (45-25) continue their six-game road trip when they take on the Orlando Magic (38-31) this Saturday at the Kia Center.

JJ Redick heaped praise on Luka Doncic after he stunned the Nets in the Los Angeles Lakers’ win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

Doncic is going through the eighth season of his NBA career, his second with the Lakers. He has made significant progress in his adaptation to Los Angeles, which has become a key factor in the team’s chances of success.

In 38 minutes of action, Doncic lit up the court from nowhere against Miami’s defense. He finished with a stat line of 60 points, seven rebounds, five steals and three assists. He made 18 of 30 shots from the field, including 9 of 17 from beyond the arc and 15 of 19 from the free-throw line.

Redick reflected on Doncic’s hot stretch of scoring after the game. After Thursday night, the Lakers superstar has scored 51 points, 30 points, 36 points and 40 points in the team’s winning streak. This resulted in the head coach praising Doncic’s remarkable efforts.

Reddick said, “His teammates are enjoying it just as much as him right now… It’s a special race.”

Luka Doncic, how the Lakers played against the Heat

JJ Redick and the Lakers are happy to see Luka Doncic getting hot at a crucial time. Los Angeles is coming off a big win, moving it up in the conference standings and the playoff picture.

Four players scored in double figures for Los Angeles in the win, including Doncic. LeBron James delivered a triple-double performance of 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists on 8 of 12 shooting from the field. Austin Reeves was next with 18 points and five rebounds, while Marcus Smart added 13 points and four assists.

Los Angeles improved to a 45–25 record on the season and finished third in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets, while trailing the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Coming off the back of eight consecutive wins, the Lakers will be looking forward to their next contest. They are on the road when they face the Orlando Magic on March 21st at 7pm ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Miami Heat for the second consecutive night on Thursday, and LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are all listed as questionable on the injury report. James is dealing with a foot problem, while Doncic has hip pain and Reeves has an arm problem. Here’s everything we know about the injuries to LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and their playing status heading into the Lakers’ game against the Heat.

LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reeves status vs. Heat

Given that all three of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are questionable on the Lakers’ injury report against the Heat, a concrete update won’t happen until it gets closer to the start of game time.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if all three players were ruled out against the Heat. At this time of the season, everyone is dealing with some kind of illness, and the Lakers have played it safe by resting key players during back-to-back stretches.

It’s only the third game of a six-game road trip, in which the Lakers will visit the Orlando Magic on Saturday, then make stops against the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers before returning home to end the month.

So when the question comes up about whether LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are playing against the Heat tonight, the answer is probably no.

lakers injury report

-Luka Doncic questionable (right hip soreness).
-LeBron James questionable (arthritis in left foot)
-Maxi Glue Out (Lumbar Back Strain)
-Austin Reeves questionable (injured right arm)

heat injury report

-Bam Adebayo available (right calf tightness)
-Vladislav Goldin out (G League two-way)
-Jaime Jaquez Jr. out (left hip tightness)
-Nikola Jovic available (lower back injury management)
-Trevor Keels out (G League two-way)
-Pelle Larsson available (left elbow injury)
-Terry Rozier out (not with team)
-Kel’l ware available (right shoulder stretch)
-Andrew Wiggins out (sesamoiditis of left big toe).
-Jahmir Young out (G League two-way)

The Los Angeles Lakers continued their momentum and defeated the Houston Rockets 124-116, as Luka Doncic once again took control of the night. In the process, he delivered a near triple-double with 40 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. This wasn’t just another strong night. Instead, it felt as if something rare was unfolding in real time.

Doncic controlled the pace from the beginning. He attacked mismatches, created space and punished every defensive lapse that Houston showed. At times the Rockets remained within reach and continued to apply pressure. He increased the speed and tested Los Angeles. However, the Lakers responded every time. Calm. accurate. Under control. As a result, Doncic made sure the momentum never slipped.

According to OptaSTATS, the race has now reached historic territory. Notably, Doncic is the first player in NBA history to record at least 250 points, 50 rebounds, 50 assists and 25 threes in a seven-game span while going undefeated. The numbers are clear. However, sustainability stands out even more. Night after night, the production continues. In turn, the impact never diminishes.

Lakers looking for identity behind Luka Doncic

This latest Lakers-Rockets clash showed the full picture. From the start, Doncic shot 12 of 25 from the field and 7 of 17 from deep. As a result, he remained efficient when needed and explosive when needed. Furthermore, he read and adjusted every coverage without hesitation. Houston tried several looks. However, none lasted long.

More importantly, the Lakers are evolving. For one, the vacancy is more intense. Besides, the ball moves faster. As a result, confidence appears on every asset. It is no longer just about speed. Instead, this structure is taking shape.

And now, the big question arises. If Luka Doncic is already making history on this field, what happens when the stakes rise and the lights get even brighter?

It doesn’t take much to get Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic excited. Even the smallest pinch can increase his competitiveness. Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzzelis will testify to this.

With no prompt or not, Doncic went off again on Wednesday. He dropped 40 points on 12 of 25 shooting, including seven three-pointers, to lead the Lakers past the Houston Rockets 124–116 at the Toyota Center.

The six-time All-Star cheered the crowd throughout the game, especially after one long bomb after another In the fourth quarter, that killed the Rockets.

Luca is unreal!

Luka Doncic dances with his defender and practices a crazy step three 🎯

pic.twitter.com/jiWPexAKs3

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 19 March 2026

He continued interacting with fans after the final buzzer. In the post-game conference, Doncic revealed what was said to him-Like.

“Some guy was talking crazy. Showing me his, uh, no problem,” said Doncic, who also had nine rebounds and 10 assists.

“(My answer) was in English. I made sure he understood it.”

At the end of the game Luka was talking trash with the fans:

“Some guy was talking crazy. Was showing me his thing…uh, never mind. It was in English, I made sure he understood” ??? pic.twitter.com/sZ2Isx5Lmr

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 19 March 2026

Doncic, 27, is known for running his mouth on the hardwood, so it wasn’t a surprise that he exchanged sweet nothings with fans.

The Lakers recorded their seventh consecutive win, with Doncic averaging close to 39.0 points.

Los Angeles shot 61% from the field, including 47% from long range. The team also held Rockets forward Kevin Durant to just 18 points on 11 attempts.

Doncic received plenty of support from running mate LeBron James, who finished with 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting, five rebounds and two assists. Meanwhile, DeAndre Ayton and Austin Reeves combined for 30 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks.

Doncic will look to continue his hot streak when they visit the Miami Heat on Thursday. Fans can only hope that the Purple and Gold will not suffer fatigue amid their heavy schedule.

Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers are finding their rhythm as a collective; On Wednesday night, they won against the Houston Rockets 124–116 for their seventh consecutive win and second in three nights. Doncic was dominant on Wednesday, recording his 12th 40-point game of the season after recording 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Never mind that the Rockets have some elite perimeter defenders, when Doncic finds his rhythm, the defense’s only prayer is that he misses.

But the Lakers know that achieving their progress in the regular season is not the ultimate goal. While this may help them prepare for what lies ahead, especially a potentially deep playoff run, they have their eyes on the prize. Doncic said as much in his postgame interview with Spectrum Sportsnet’s Mike Trudell.

Doncic told Trudel, “It’s an amazing feeling. I love winning. Everything is better when you’re winning. We have great chemistry. We’re a great team. This is the beginning of something beautiful.”

“We have great chemistry…this is just the beginning of something beautiful.”

with luka doncic @lakersreporter In the team after tonight’s win. pic.twitter.com/MHBS9q2d6V

– Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) 19 March 2026

The Lakers are finding out, and considering how elite Doncic and James can be when the stakes are at their highest, there isn’t a single team in the West that would like to see them in a seven-game series.

The entire Lakers roster has adopted JJ Redick’s system

The Lakers have suffered a lot this season, but it’s telling that DeAndre Ayton, of all people, would go to the media and say he took a long, hard look at the mirror and realized the defensive effort and energy the team needed from him.

The entire team has bought into what Redick is selling and as a result, the Lakers are winning. But they have another tough test ahead of them, as they look to extend their win streak to eight tomorrow night when they travel to Miami and visit the Heat at 8:00 pm ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers recorded their seventh consecutive win by defeating the Houston Rockets 124–116 at the Toyota Center.

The Lakers swept the Rockets in their back-to-back contests, with Luka Doncic and LeBron James combining for their best performances of the season.

Doncic had a near triple-double of 40 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, while James added 30 points, missing only one of his 14 attempts. He also had five rebounds and two assists.

Doncic had seven three-pointers, including a dagger in the final minute, giving them a nine-point lead. After the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick was asked what Doncic said after hitting the shot. In response, Redick told a joke.

“I’m very excited to go to Miami,” Redick said, per Benjamin Royer of the OC Register.

There is no time to rest for the Purple and Gold as they face the Miami Heat on Thursday at Kasia Center.

Redick has talked about his busy schedule this season and reiterated that he has to deal with it and do his job as a professional.

The 27-year-old Doncic has been poor in his recent win streak, averaging 38.7 points. He has reached 40 points for the third time in seven matches. He is on his way to winning his second scoring title.

At the risk of spoiling it, it looks like the Lakers are peaking at the right time. With great play from Doncic and James, Austin Reeves regaining his form, Deandre Ayton learning to buy in and Marcus Smart playing his role perfectly, they will pose a real threat in the playoffs.

This is not a joke.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic just got the best of NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

Doncic led the Lakers to their sixth straight win in defeating the Houston Rockets 100-92 at Toyota Center on Monday. He had a game-high 36 points on 14-of-27 shooting, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

It was a strong follow-up to his courageous performance against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, in which he scored the game-winning bucket, 127-125, in overtime. He finished with a triple-double of 30 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists.

Oh, he also dropped 51 points in Thursday’s 142-130 win at home over the Chicago Bulls.

According to ESPN Insights, Doncic has averaged 37.8 points in his last six games. Most in team history Bryant’s 39.5 points in a six-game span since the 2011–2012 season.

Luka Doncic has averaged 37.8 PPG over his last six games, the most by a Lakers player over a 6-game span within a season since Kobe Bryant (39.5) in 2011–12. pic.twitter.com/eom3aR50Iv

– ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) 17 March 2026

While he is more of a passer than Bryant, Doncic can easily make it on offense when needed. After all, he is the league’s leading scorer with 32.8 points – the second-highest total in his career. He is on his way to winning his second scoring title.

The 27-year-old star has often praised Bryant, the two-time scoring champion, for being an inspiration, including mentoring him during his freshman year.

“I remember meeting him for the first time before I started my NBA season. One thing he said was, ‘Look, you’re European, they’re going to come after you.’ You know, he was right,” Doncic told Yahoo! Shared in a report. Sports’ Bruno Felix.

The Lakers improved to 43–25 and moved into third place in the Western Conference, surpassing the Rockets.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is making impossible looks a regular thing. Since arriving in Southern California, the Slovenian maestro has been in a statistical crisis that is leaving franchise icons in a state of disbelief.

After his latest masterclass, Doncic has officially tied Hall of Famer James Worthy for most 30-point games in a Lakers uniform with 52. While reaching that mark is an accomplishment for anyone, the speed at which Doncic did so stunned “Big Game James.” During a postgame segment on Spectrum SportsNet, Worthy couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the motion.

“It took me 14 years!” Worthy joked, apparently surprised by how quickly the 27-year-old erased the mark that took the veteran more than a decade to establish.

This milestone comes after one of the most impressive weeks in recent memory for the Purple and Gold. On March 12, Doncic led the Chicago Bulls to a season-high 51 points in a 142–130 win. He shot an impressive 17 of 31 from the field and added 10 rebounds and nine assists, falling just one assist short of a triple-double. He then dropped 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in a 127–125 overtime victory against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, even hitting the go-ahead jumper in the closing seconds.

Currently leading the NBA in scoring with 32.8 points per game, Doncic has completely transformed the Lakers’ offense since the blockbuster trade that brought him from the Dallas Mavericks. While legends like Worthy and LeBron James have seen it all, Doncic continues to find new ways to surprise the veterans. For Worth, seeing his own record fall so quickly is part of the “Luka Magic” experience. As the Lakers push for the top seed in the Western Conference, Doncic is rewriting the history books in real time.

The Los Angeles Lakers recorded their sixth consecutive win by defeating the Houston Rockets 100-92 at Toyota Center on Monday. The Lakers finished third in the Western Conference, surpassing the Rockets.

Luka Doncic once again led the attack with a game-high 36 points on 14 of 27 shooting, while adding six rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Purple and Gold improved to 43-25.

During a postgame interview with NBC, Doncic praised his response and his defensive effort in the final period, holding the Rockets under 100 points and handing them only their ninth loss at home.

“It was great. I thought we shared the ball well, especially in the last quarter,” said the NBA’s leading scorer.

“To hold them (the Rockets) to 92 points is awesome. We did a great job defensively.”

Houston is averaging 114.1 points per game.

Doncic, 27, also acknowledged the physicality of the game, which he said has been a clear theme amid his winning streak.

“We could have done a lot better, but what matters is that we won, we have to keep it going,” Doncic said.

“The last few games have been very physical, very playoff-like.”

Luka said tonight felt like a playoff game pic.twitter.com/fpCT49LtX6

– Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) 17 March 2026

The Lakers have been on a tough schedule, surviving the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. They will face the Rockets again on Wednesday.

LeBron James had 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals against Houston, while also had a spectacular dunk on Jabari Smith Jr.

Austin Reeves had 15 points, three rebounds, five assists and four steals.

On Saturday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers continued their winning ways with an impressive home win in overtime over the Denver Nuggets. After Austin Reaves brought the game into extra period with some heroics late in regulation, Luka Doncic won things for Los Angeles with the game winner in the final frame, giving the Lakers their fifth consecutive win in the process.

There was a playoff-like atmosphere at Crypto.com Arena for most of the evening, and after the game, Doncic made sure to give a shout-out to the fans in attendance for the matchup.

X, formerly on Twitter According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Doncic said, “I felt like it was the best environment because I’ve been a Laker… I had goosebumps.”

Indeed, there were several notable “crowd pops” on ESPN’s broadcast of the game, including perhaps the loudest when Doncic’s final jumper found the bottom of the net with .5 on the clock in overtime.

At times it felt like this game was following the familiar script of many Lakers vs. Nuggets matchups over the years, with Los Angeles getting off to a strong start, Denver eventually taking control late, and things going down to the wire. However, in most cases, it seems like the Nuggets made the biggest plays during the game and won, but that was not the case on Saturday night, as Los Angeles produced several great performances to pick up the win.

It also helped matters that legendary Lakers killer Jamal Murray only scored five points in this one and ultimately fouled out.

The win allowed the Lakers to move back into third place in the vaunted Western Conference. They will take the field on Monday evening for the first set of two games against the Houston Rockets.

The Los Angeles Lakers got a big win over the Denver Nuggets in overtime and they had to go through a lot of drama to get there. Austin Reeves intentionally missed his free throws at the end of regulation and was able to make a floater to get the ball back and tie the game.

At the end of overtime, Luka Doncic had the ball in his hands and did what he does best, making clutch shots. The Nuggets didn’t have enough time to get clean shots, and a game that looked like they were going to win turned into a Lakers win.

After the game, LeBron James spoke highly of Doncic and his ability to make clutch shots, and there will be more from him in the future.

James said, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, “Just a big shot by a generational player. … We wanted the last shot. We wanted to get the ball in our guy’s hands. So, this will be the first of many game winners for him and in a Lakers uniform.”

“Just a big shot by a generational player. … We wanted the last shot. We wanted to put the ball in our guy’s hands. So, this is going to be the first of many game winners for him and in a Lakers uniform.” – LeBron James on Luka Doncic’s game winner pic.twitter.com/UhTsEIovS6

-Dave McMenamin (@mcten) 15 March 2026

Doncic has never been afraid to take the big shot, and more often than not, he nails it. James knows what his guy is capable of and probably doesn’t mind giving him one last shot at the end of every game.

With the win, the Lakers have the tiebreaker over the Nuggets, which is big as the Western Conference standings continue to tighten toward the end of the season.

The Lakers have played well last week, and they are making progress at the right time to be in a good position when the season ends. As long as they have a closer like Doncic, they should be in good shape moving forward.

Luka Doncic didn’t have much left in the tank after the Los Angeles Lakers survived a 127-125 overtime marathon against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. As he walked towards the locker room of the Crypto.com Arena, exhaustion was clearly visible across his face. When asked how he felt after his game-winning heroics, Doncic gave a candid, unfiltered answer that perfectly summed up that night.

“Feeling great, tired,” Doncic said in the tunnel. “Got to rest a bit. Great win though, great win.”

“Great victory.”

Luka Doncic in the tunnel after the Lakers’ escape from overtime.

(via @nba)pic.twitter.com/iGbPpZlNet

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 15 March 2026

The Slovenian superstar earned every bit of that exhaustion. In a game that felt like a heavyweight title fight, Doncic finished with a huge triple-double with 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. But it was his activity in the final seconds that defined the game. After burying a clutch stepback jumper to give the Los Angeles Lakers a two-point lead, he switched to Tim Hardaway Jr. and drained a potentially game-winning three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.

Luka Doncic reminded the entire NBA why the Los Angeles Lakers are the team to beat in the Western Conference. The Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 127-125 in an overtime thriller Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena. While the box score highlights a huge team effort, the night belonged to Doncic. He produced a ruthless game-winner followed by a defensive stop that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.

Luka Doncic for the win 🤯pic.twitter.com/cbtnkMur28

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 15 March 2026

The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t make it easy for themselves. After letting a lead slip late in regulation, they traded haymakers to a Denver Nuggets team led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The energy inside the arena reached fever pitch as both teams refused to blink in the extra period.

But as the game became tied, Doncic took charge. With less than 7 seconds remaining, the Slovenian superstar buried a stepback jumper to put the Lakers up by two.

Denver had one last chance to steal the victory. The ball reached Tim Hardaway Jr., who had already scored 20 points off the bench for the Nuggets. Hardaway Jr. rose up for a potential game-winning three-pointer, but Doncic met him at the summit. The Lakers’ point guard blocked the attempt as the buzzer sounded, capping his triple-double performance with a rare defensive highlight.

Luka Doncic finished the evening with 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. Got a lot of help from them also. Austin Reeves was fantastic, leading all scorers with 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting. Marcus Smart also turned back the clock, scoring 21 points and a staggering five steals to keep Denver’s offense unbalanced. For the Nuggets, Jokic was his usual dominant self, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lakers’ star power. With the win, Los Angeles continues its lead at the top of the standings.

Luka Doncic continues to impress for the Los Angeles Lakers as the team enters a crucial stretch of the season.

Doncic led the Lakers to a 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night with a nearly triple-double performance that highlighted his offensive impact. The star guard finished with 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists while adding three steals and a block in 37 minutes.

He made 17 of 31 shots from the field, including 9 of 14 from three-point range, and converted 8 of his 9 free throw attempts. The performance marked one of Doncic’s most complete performances of the season and led Los Angeles to another impressive win.

The dominant night continued a remarkable stretch for Doncic, who has increased his production during the Lakers’ recent surge. Over the past four games, he has averaged 40.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists, while also contributing 2.5 steals per contest. During that span, he has shot 51 percent from the field, 45 percent from three-point range and 86 percent from the free throw line as Los Angeles has won four consecutive games.

Luka Doncic’s impressive season pushes Lakers to top seed in Western Conference

Doncic’s consistency has been central to the Lakers’ success this season. Through 54 games, the 27-year-old is averaging 32.9 points, 8.5 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game, while also recording 1.5 steals per contest. He is shooting 47.5 percent from the field, 36.7 percent from three-point range and 77.6 percent from the free throw line while playing 35.5 minutes per game.

His offensive production has helped stabilize the Lakers as they push for position in the Western Conference standings. The win over Chicago improved Los Angeles to 41–25 on the season, moving the team into the third seed.

The Lakers will look to carry their momentum on Saturday when they host the Denver Nuggets (41-26) at 5:30 pm PT on ABC. The matchup could carry significant playoff implications as both teams sit at the top of the conference.

Following the home game, Los Angeles begins a six-game road trip Monday against the Houston Rockets (40-25) at 6:30 p.m. on NBCSN and Peacock as the team moves into a competitive Western Conference race.

LeBron James didn’t have to do much in his return from an elbow injury on Thursday, as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves scored as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Chicago Bulls, 142-130, at Crypto.com Arena.

James had missed his last three games, all of which the Lakers won, with Doncic and Reaves out.

Against the Bulls, Doncic went on nuclear attack with a season-high 51 points on 17-of-31 shooting, including 9-of-14 from three-point distance. He also had 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Reeves was also special with 30 points on 13-of-20 shooting, five rebounds and seven assists.

According to Benjamin Royer of the OC Register, Lakers coach JJ Redick has discussed with James about allowing Doncic and Reaves to do their thing.

“I think, again, he wants to do everything he can to help his team win, and he understands the importance of making sure Luka and AR can perform at their best,” Redick said.

James finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals as the Purple and Gold won their fourth straight game and improved to 41–25.

The 41-year-old James has always been a team player, and he understands there are games when he has to outplay Doncic and Reeves, especially when the matchups and schemes dictate it.

The four-time MVP has often praised the talent of Doncic and Reeves, empowering them to take charge when needed. Redick also praised him, giving the backcourt duo extra confidence.

Reeves, in particular, missed several weeks with a calf injury, so it’s good to see him recapture his old form and give the Lakers more firepower.

They will face the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers continued to move forward and won their fourth consecutive game with a 142-130 victory against the Chicago Bulls. The story of the night was Luka Doncic who dropped a career-best 51 points for the Lakers in the win. After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick commented that Doncic’s recent games were not being discussed enough.

“He’s playing as good as any other player in the NBA right now, and I think that’s probably not being talked about,” Redick said during his postgame press conference. “But I’m going to talk about it.”

Once Luka Doncic reached 51 points, at the end of the fourth quarter, the Lakers committed an intentional foul to take him out of the game. He finished just one assist shy of a triple double with 10 rebounds and nine assists. He shot 17 of 31 from the field, 9 of 14 from the 3-point line, and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line.

Early in the game, Doncic talked some trash with Bulls young gun Matas Buzelis, a conversation that seemed to infuriate him. For Redick, one of the most impressive things about Doncic is his ability to stay focused between these little one-on-one battles.

Luca has words for Matas Buzelis after stepback trey

Doncic is one technical away from automatic suspension.pic.twitter.com/cMpQDODafo

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 13 March 2026

“It’s a unique quality. It’s not just the fact that he reacts to any kind of rude behavior or trash talk, but that he can broadcast it,” Redick said. “He can channel that while also doing all the other things that need to be done. That’s obviously reflected in his defensive rebounding, his assists, his steals. Another game where he gets a high assist number with low turnovers.”

Over the last 10 games, Doncic has 22, 41, 26, 28, 27, 27, 44, 35, 31 and now 51 points. The Lakers have gone 7-3 in that span with a few wins against very good teams in the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves. As the Lakers have climbed up to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings, Doncic has begun to garner MVP buzz again.

This season, he leads the league in scoring (32.5 points), field goal attempts (22.0), 3-pointers attempted (3.8), 3-pointers attempted (10.4) and free-throw attempts (10.2). He is shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 36 percent from the 3-point line and 77.4 percent from the free-throw line.

The Lakers have just one home game remaining, with another big test with the Denver Nuggets coming to town on Saturday. They then took the field for six games before returning home to conclude the month.

Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis is still learning the game within the game in his second year in the NBA. They got a tough lesson in their loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

In the second quarter, Buzelis started talking to Lakers guard Luka Doncic, hoping to get him off his game. However, it had the opposite effect. Doncic became excited and counterattacked Buzelis and scored 12 consecutive points.

From there it was all disappointment for the Bulls, as the Lakers won 142–130. Doncic finished with season highs of 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

After the game, the 21-year-old Bouzelis admitted that his biggest takeaway was to never talk trash about Doncic again, though he also displayed his mentality.

“Obviously, when I started talking to him he started hitting. But I don’t back down from anybody. It doesn’t matter who you are. I accepted the challenge, but it didn’t work out,” Bouzelis said in a video posted by Chicago Sports Network.

“I don’t back down from anyone. No matter who you are.”

Matas Buzelis reflects on his back-and-forth with Luka Doncic tonight pic.twitter.com/lbwNkrSQXj

– Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) 13 March 2026

Despite the tough lessons, Bouzelis played well, scoring 22 points, including four three-pointers, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

The Bulls fell to 27–39, while the Lakers improved to 41–25.

Doncic said that Bouzelis “woke me up”, adding that he was surprised that the young forward was chirping at him.

His mask may look innocent, but the six-time All-Star is notorious for running his mouth. Doncic has stunned several players, including Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn.

Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves may seem like kids when they joke with each other, but when it comes time to take the court, they mean business for the Los Angeles Lakers.

On Thursday, he arrived at Crypto.com Arena and led the Lakers to a 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls. Doncic had a stellar performance with a season-high 51 points on 17-of-31 shooting. He also had a near triple-double with 10 rebounds and nine assists. Meanwhile, Reeves scored 30 points on 13-of-20 shooting, five rebounds and seven assists.

It was another efficient performance for the backcourt duo, as the Lakers recorded their fourth consecutive win.

The talent of Doncic and Reeves didn’t diminish LeBron James, who had two adjectives for his teammates, as reported by Benjamin Royer of the OC Register.

“LeBron James calls Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves ‘magical and dynamic,'” Royer wrote on X.

It’s unclear if James chose them specifically to contrast Doncic and Reeves’ styles, but yes, “magical” suits the former, while “dynamic” is perfect for the latter.

Since entering the NBA in 2018, it always felt like Doncic had superpowers. Reeves, meanwhile, has shown vast improvement in his all-around game over the past few years.

For his part, James returned from a three-game absence due to an elbow injury against the Denver Nuggets. He finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals.

The Lakers won three games without him, with Doncic and Reeves leading the team together.

They improved to 41-25 and have a rematch with the Nuggets on Saturday.

No one scored 83 points in the Association Thursday night, but someone rallied for a 50-point triple-double, thanks to none other than Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Luka Doncic.

The former NBA scoring champion tore apart the Bulls’ defense in a memorable performance. In just 37 minutes, Doncic scored 51 points and came just one assist away from a 50-point triple-double, as he had 10 rebounds and nine dimes.

He pushed it from behind the arc, knocking down nine triples on 14 attempts. He was 17-for-31 overall from the field and 8-for-9 from the charity stripe. Despite having the ball in his hands most of the time, Doncic turned the ball over only once.

A night after Bam Adebayo surpassed Kobe Bryant’s 81 points, Doncic gave Lakers and basketball fans a stellar stat line to celebrate.

“Luka smiling at that Lakers gold after 51-10-9? Pure joy 🔥 Trade of the century!”. one fan said.

Another commented, “Moral hoops by the GOAT. He had 73 ts.”

X, formerly a social media user on Twitter, shared, “All class Luka. Amazing game.”

“An honest 51 too,” one comment read.

“Luka putting on a show again. Back-to-back 50-point nights?”. a separate social media commentator said.

Luka Doncic also loves facing the bulls. He had 46 points in last January’s meeting with Chicago in the Windy City. The good news for Chicago is that it won’t be until the 2026-27 NBA season that they’ll share the court with Doncic again.

The win over the Bulls improved the Lakers’ record to 41–25 and extended L.A.’s winning streak to four games.

Not even the threat of an automatic suspension stopped Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Luka Doncic from playing with some attitude, at least for a moment, in Thursday night’s home game against the visiting Chicago Bulls.

During one possession in the first half, Doncic swung a step-back jumper past the outstretched arm of Bulls forward Matas Bouzelis in his face.

After missing a 3-point shot, Doncic turned to Buzelis and said a few words toward the Bulls forward as the two made their way to the other end of the court. Bouzelis also appeared to say something to Doncic, who smiled as he prepared to play defense.

You can watch their exchange here.

Luca has words for Matas Buzelis after stepback trey

Doncic is one technical away from automatic suspension.pic.twitter.com/cMpQDODafo

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 13 March 2026

Dončić is difficult enough to guard, and dealing with his antics can make the job even more difficult for anyone who tries to guard him. The thought of getting cooked by Doncic and talking trash every now and then can break a person, though that doesn’t seem to be the case with Bouzelis.

If Doncic looked a little more confident than usual against the Bulls, it’s probably because of what he did against them the last time the two teams met. In late January, the former NBA scoring champion gave Chicago 46 points on 15-25 shooting from the field with 12 assists and seven rebounds along with eight 3-pointers in 38 minutes of action in a 129-118 Los Angeles victory in the Windy City.

Doncic entered the Bulls rematch with season averages of 32.5 points, 8.5 assists and 7.9 rebounds.

In recent weeks, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic’s interactions with officials have been much discussed. Doncic committed his 15th technical foul of the season during the Lakers’ loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, and was then fined by the NBA following the team’s win against the New York Knicks on Sunday.

The NBA announced Tuesday that Luka Doncic was fined $50,000 for making an inappropriate gesture toward officials during the Lakers’ game against the Knicks. The incident occurred when Doncic attempted to take a charge against Knicks forward Mohamed Diawara. As soon as Doncic hit the floor, no call was made and the Knicks easily got two points.

Doncic immediately turned toward the nearest referee and made a symbol with his hands that has been used jokingly by NBA players in the past to suggest that officials get paid when they don’t make certain calls.

The Lakers still have to win, and they have another big game against a good team on Tuesday as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves. But Doncic’s standoff with officials will clearly be worth monitoring. Another technical foul and he is automatically suspended for one game.

Before the Lakers’ win against the Indiana Pacers last Friday, head coach JJ Redick defended his superstar’s competitive fire during his recent conversation with officials.

Amidst all this, Doncic has been on a tear this season, averaging a league-leading 32.5 points. He is also leading the league in shot attempts at 22.0, 3-point attempts at 10.4, 3-pointers at 3.8 and free-throw attempts at 10.3.

Luka Doncic always wears his heart on his sleeve in every minute he spends on the hardwood, and that was certainly the case during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 110-97 win over the New York Knicks at home on Sunday.

While everything ended well and in good spirits for the Lakers, Doncic had some distinct moments of frustration towards the officiating – even appearing to point money towards the referees at one point, indicating they were on his opponents’ payroll.

Doncic isn’t the most skilled defensive player, so when he tries, he wants to get the least amount of reward. With about 4:30 remaining in the third quarter of Sunday’s game, he tried to charge rookie forward Mohamed Diarra on a three-on-two fastbreak, but the officials did not blow their whistle. He made the above provocative gesture immediately after that no-call.

Immediately after the game, the Lakers star made it known He told ESPN’s Malika Andrews that he faced two charges that night – one that counted, and one that didn’t.

(Fast forward to 0:20 of the video.)

Official fee charged? 1. But records show Luca faced 2 charges (according to him ???).

Now how can the Lakers turn what they showed against New York into a consistent defensive identity?

Fun post-game interview with Luca pic.twitter.com/qd96xgVsYO

– Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) 8 March 2026

Charges and blocks can be some of the most blatant calls in basketball, so there is always uncertainty in such games. But let’s say: Doncic is at least willing to put his body on the line in keeping with the Lakers’ defensive principles.

Luka Doncic leads Lakers to big win without LeBron James

LeBron James has been battling arthritis, which kept him out of the Lakers’ lineup on Sunday. not to worry; The Lakers still won comfortably, with Doncic recording 35 points and Austin Reaves supporting him with his 25 points.

The Lakers did a good job of forcing turnovers (the Knicks had 18 on the night), and they also kept them quiet from beyond the arc, allowing only eight triples on the night.

The Los Angeles Lakers have picked up momentum over the past few weeks, returning to their Big-3 form and winning four of their last five games. While the occasional defensive lapses are still present, the Lakers’ core men certainly seem to be having fun even without LeBron James, as evidenced by Luka Doncic’s clip from the New York Knicks’ trip to Crypto.com Arena.

Doncic and company got off to a fast start and finished the first quarter 31-23, in what has proven to be a tough day for offenses since then. According to a post on X by ClutchPoints, the Slovenian drew a foul from former Dallas Mavericks teammate Jalen Brunson after driving inside, and couldn’t help but laugh immediately afterward.

Luka Doncic is laughing at his former teammate and friend Jalen Brunson after he fouled him 🤣

pic.twitter.com/6QziGXF3c4

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 8 March 2026

James missed his second consecutive game due to a left elbow injury. However, even in his absence, the Lakers looked comfortable offensively for most of the night.

Doncic had a game-high 35 points with eight rebounds and four assists. However, he was only 11-25 from the field and 5-16 from the three-point zone.

Austin Reeves had 25 points, five assists and four rebounds, while DeAndre Ayton looked more willing to be the defensive lynchpin, finishing with six points on 3-4 shooting with eight rebounds in 20 minutes. Luke Kennard provided cover off the bench, playing 27 minutes and finishing with 12 points and two rebounds.

The Lakers were only slightly better from the field than the Knicks, shooting 42.7% overall. However, they were vastly better from beyond the arc, converting 15 of their 44 three-pointers (34.1%), while the Knicks shot 8/34 from the three-point zone.

This win will help the now 38-25 Lakers keep distance from the Phoenix Suns. They are now just a half game behind the Denver Nuggets in 5th place with a 39-25 record.

For New York, Karl-Anthony Towns finished with a team-high 25 points and 16 rebounds on 8-17 from the field. Jalen Brunson followed closely with 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds on 8-19 shooting.

LOS ANGELES – After a disappointing loss against the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers got back on track with a 1128-117 win against the Indiana Pacers on Friday. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with a game-high 44 points, but it wasn’t their offense that he wanted to talk about following the game.

Throughout the season, the media and fans alike have talked about Luka Doncic’s offensive game, but there has been very little mention of his defensive impact for the Lakers. So much so that it has actually become an underestimated part of his skill-set.

“I know people will never talk about it. Just trying to do my job,” Doncic said during his postgame press conference. “Trying to be more offensive, trying to be more engaged. Just trying to be better defensively.”

Doncic’s defense was certainly on display during the Lakers’ win against the Pacers. He finished with two blocked shots and three steals, including an impressive block where he hit Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith who thought he could get an easy look at the basket. The block immediately caused the Lakers’ fast break.

Doncic carries a huge offensive load for the Lakers, and he is very explosive when it comes to scoring the basketball. Perhaps that’s why it’s easy to overlook his defensive impact. But the numbers don’t lie. When it comes to regular rotation players, Doncic is second only to Jared Vanderbilt in defensive rating at 114.4, according to StatMuse.

Vanderbilt is easily one of the Lakers’ top defenders; You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who disagrees. But Doncic also deserves some credit for his role on the defensive end. And for head coach JJ Redick, it’s not just getting stops or steals or blocks that measures Doncic’s impact.

“I think he’s had really good stretches, and then sustainable stretches leading up to the game,” Redick said during his pregame press conference. “And then it seems like occasionally there’s a play where the engagement and effort isn’t there. There are times within the game where maybe one or two possessions happen. But I would say across the board, on our team, outside of maybe Marcus Smart, that’s the situation for our guys on that end of the field.”

“We have the numbers. When he switches on the ball, it’s the fewest of any player on our perimeter in terms of points per possession. So I think he’s done a good job. He’s shown he can control the basketball,” Redick continued. “He’s obviously one of the best wing defensive rebounders in the NBA. He’s able to generate steals and deflections. With some provocation, also taking charges. So he’s doing a lot of good things defensively.”

On the season, Doncic has appeared in 51 games, a little over 35 minutes per game. He is averaging a league-leading 32.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.5 steals while splitting 47.5 percent shooting from the field, 36.2 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 77.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

LOS ANGELES – A coach yelled at Luka Doncic for his frustration on the court and ignoring him during a recent substitution.

The Los Angeles Lakers star needs to collect just one more technical before serving a one-game suspension.

Still, Lakers coach JJ Redick downplayed those concerns based on how Doncic manages his competitive fire.

“He’s a special type of player, a special type of person and a special type of competitor,” Redick said. “I’d prefer someone who’s going out every night and trying to kill, rather than someone who you literally have to resuscitate with a different defibrillator every other day. So I’ll take Luca all day.”

So will Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who managed Doncic during the first three of his seven seasons with the Dallas Mavericks (2018-2025).

“You show me a great player who isn’t stubborn and doesn’t get angry at things,” Carlisle said. “I’ll show you someone who’s not a great player.”

Instead, Carlisle views Dončić as “the greatest player I’ve ever coached”. Carlisle predicted that Doncic would eventually win the NBA regular-season MVP award. Carlisle described coaching against Doncic as “hell” and argued that “it’s impossible to gameplan for him.”

Over the next two and a half hours, Doncic proved his former coach right. He led the Lakers to a 128-117 win over the Pacers on Friday with 44 points, while going 14-for-25 from the field, 7-for-14 from 3-point range and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, along with nine rebounds and five assists.

The Lakers missed LeBron James (left elbow soreness) and Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness). No matter. The injury-plagued roster only encouraged Doncic.

Doncic passed Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards for most 40-point games this season (10). by recording 12^th 40-point games in the last 1 1/2 seasons with the Lakers, Doncic passed Gail Goodrich for ninth place on the franchise’s all-time list. Ultimately,

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a player who controls an NBA game in every possible way,” Carlisle said. “You can’t speed him up. You can’t slow him down. It’s really an impossible task. You have to hope he misses some shots. If you think double teaming is the answer, it’s not. The stats will tell you that when you double team him, things get worse because everyone else is going, and there are wide open shots everywhere. So he’s as difficult a player to gameplan as I’ve ever seen.”

It’s even more difficult considering the Pacers (15-48), who boast the Eastern Conference’s worst record. The Lakers’ Austin Reaves (19 points), Luke Kennard (15), Rui Hachimura (13) and Marcus Smart (11) also scored in double figures, making it even more difficult. Nevertheless, Redick observed that Doncic still had “ridiculous shot-making” against Indiana guards Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, whom Redick praised as one of the NBA’s best on-ball defenders.

“He can make every shot,” Redick said of Doncic. “He can make floaters. He can make floaters that go left or right. He’s a shot maker. But he’s also a playmaker. He has the ability, whether it’s single coverage or double coverage, to make reads and make open shots and closeouts and lobs for his teammates. And he’s done that for seven years now. He’s seen every coverage. So he has a progression of reads.”

However, has Doncic made enough progress by keeping his emotions in check?

The numbers say no. Doncic scored his 15^th Technical during Thursday’s loss at Denver. The NBA automatically suspends a player without pay when he accumulates 16 technicals. With the Lakers (38-25) trailing the Nuggets (39-25) by a half-game for fifth place in the Western Conference, Doncic’s potential suspension could dramatically alter the team’s playoff seeding.

Against Indiana, Doncic looked more subdued in front of the referees. Redick said that “he had a very pleasant conversation with the officials.” Doncic argued that “I just want to play my game.”

“Just to me it shows that I really care about the game,” Doncic said. “I want to win every game. Obviously, there’s a lot of emotion in it. But it means caring a lot about the game. This game has given me everything.”

Doncic, meanwhile, is averaging a league-leading 32.3 points and third-best 8.6 assists per game. The Lakers also praised him for his improved defensive effort. Certainly, Doncic’s frustration with the officials could impact his focus on both ends of the floor. He may also be angry with the coaching staff. So, Redick’s anger erupted during the Lakers’ recent win at Golden State.

Still, the Lakers mostly encourage Dončić to play with emotion because he scores and passes more efficiently than gathering technicalities. Mavericks also generally came to the same conclusion.

“He’s a tremendous competitor. I don’t see that changing,” Carlisle said. “I don’t see that changing. But he’s great.”

Mark Medina is an NBA contributor for SportsNut. follow him x, blue sky, Instagram, Facebook And threads.

NBA Insider for Sportsknot. Former NBA writer for NBA.com and USA TODAY, Warriors writer for The Mercury News, Lakers… More about Mark Medina

Luka Doncic didn’t even start the game on Friday night; They took over the Crypto.com Arena in a hostile manner. The Slovenian superstar turned the arena into his personal playground during a blowout opening frame against the Indiana Pacers, and reminded everyone why the Lakers moved mountains to get him.

Luka Doncic is on fire in the first quarter against the Pacers

🔹22 points
🔹4 rebounds
🔹3 help

🔹7-in-9 FG
🔹5 out of 5 3pts

pic.twitter.com/ToxtTEnkbV

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 7 March 2026

Doncic came out of the gate like a man possessed, and torched the Indiana Pacers for 22 points in the first quarter. He wasn’t just scoring; He was conducting a masterclass in efficiency. Luka shot a ridiculous 7-of-9 from the field and was a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the arc in those first 12 minutes. He added four rebounds and three assists for good measure, accounting for nearly every bucket the Lakers produced early on.