Luka Doncic wasn’t happy with his first experience in the Lakers-Warriors rivalry, taking the blame for Thursday’s loss to Golden State following a poor shooting night, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Doncic went 6-of-17 from the field and missed all six of his three-point attempts, ending a 114-game streak of making at least one three-pointer, which McMenamin notes was the fifth longest in NBA history.
The loss knocked L.A. back into fourth place at 46-30, a half-game behind Denver in the tight race for Western Conference seeding. The fifth-place Warriors moved to within a game of the Lakers at 45-31.
“That performance from me was unacceptable,” Doncic said. “When I play like that, that makes [it] harder [for the team] to win, so just got to figure that out.”
After the game, Doncic had ice on his left elbow, which was heavily wrapped in kinesiology tape, McMenamin states. However, Doncic refused to blame the injury for his shooting woes.
“It’s fine,” he said. “That’s my left [arm], so it’s fine. I was shooting with the right. It [just] looked like [the] left.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- LeBron James isn’t showing any effects from the groin strain that sidelined him for two weeks in March, McMenamin adds. In his seventh game since returning, James played 40 minutes and finished with 33 points, five rebounds and nine assists. “That was the best I’ve felt since before the injury, for sure,” he said. “I just tried to press, get downhill. My rhythm, as far as my jump shot, felt pretty good today. I have been shooting it from the free throw line extremely well as of late. But that was probably the best physically I’ve felt so hopefully I can build off of that.”
- Jaxson Hayes saw his scoring numbers rise after the Doncic trade in early February, but opponents have adjusted to take away the lob threat, notes Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. Hayes averaged 9.6 PPG and shot 78.4% from the field in his first 19 games with Doncic, but defenses are now focusing on keeping their low man close to the basket. “When teams do that, man, it’s either Luka’s gonna get a bucket or one of the shooters gonna get a bucket,” Hayes said. “They’re pulled in trying to help on my rolls and tackle on my rolls, that means the corner man’s open. So it’s just all about making the right reads. I just gotta continue to force overs and continue to roll hard so people come pull into the paint and can try to bring more of their defense in to get other guys open.”
- Maxi Kleber, who was acquired from Dallas in the Doncic deal, has been cleared for on-court activities, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic (Twitter link). Kleber is recovering from surgery on his right foot in late January.
Doncic sucked last night. Totally invisible. He looked shook! Not a great sign.
he is not one of those playersthat can play 40 minutes. JJ need to rest his players more. REason you saw him missing shots.
He was on the bench plenty of times. He had rest. This was not a back to back.
Awful defense and a turnover machine. Inconsistent shooter.
I think his arm is bothering him more than he is letting on but have to admit, with both he and Reeves are on the floor, their defensive liabilities is a bit more glaring. They really need a big to anchor the paint.
Still cant comprehend how lakers bamboozled dallas into acquiring luka
Still can’t comprehend how the Warriors got Butler without giving up Kuminga, Moody or Podz…
The Warriors beat the team with the 3rd best home record on their court. They are the hottest team in the NBA. The 4th seed is within sight.
The Warriors announced Thursday that Payton (thumb) is making good progress in his recovery, and although he won’t play in Thursday’s game versus the Lakers, he will be considered day-to-day moving forward.
OneWay Wonder …. You can’t be a basketball fan. If you don’t believe in Defense. Its a 2Way sport. So when Luka a top 10 offensive talent. Is having a bad offensive day. This is what happens. Worse he sulks argues and is a liability on defense. He’s done this his whole career so far. Truly a OneWay Wonder…
“ For the first time in a long time since the Lakers traded for Luka Doncic, his magic disappeared, the team’s offensive engine frustrated by a combination of Golden State’s defense, wasted offensive opportunities and whistles that didn’t come.”
Luka stats — 6/17 FG% 35.3, 0/6 (3pt).
Lakers lose by 7. Just one game , right.
link to sports.yahoo.com
The Warriors defense clamped Luka, just like they are clamping everyone right now.
Lakers and Warriors both have tough gms remaining. So this was a big win for GS. TWolves have easy schedule left. So they could easily slip into 4th seed. They have been up n down all yr. So this is the time to man up. Grizzlies are lost right now 2-7 in last 9 gms. One team will fall to play in (7th). Another to 6th seed and Denver in 1st rd. A lot still riding in these last 5-6 gms.
If anyone recorded the game check out the beginning of the post game. The host spent most of the first 10 minutes essentially talking about LeBron. “Warriors kept trying to pull away but LeBron kept bring LA back” Didn’t refer to Warriors players, including Curry, until his LeBron cheering. When he finally talked about Podziemski he told us Podz played at St Mary’s. Now, obviously LeBron was great BUT he lost. The dude clearly ain’t no Ernie Johnson. He probably got chewed out by Shaq afterwards. I miss Shaq Ernie Kenny and Charles
The host really said that Podz went to St Mary’s? I guess those Jesuits all look the same. I wonder what Podz thinks of that.
Can’t say I’ve ever missed having to listen to Charles Barkley
“The Warriors defense clamped Luka, just like they are clamping everyone right now.”
Yep the Warriors also failed to do that to the Embiid less 76ers, Jokic and Murray less Nuggets, the Hawks and well well well, the Butler less Heat.