“Luka Magic” is running out of steam — and it couldn’t be happening at a worse time for the Lakers.
In Thursday night’s pivotal Western Conference showdown against the Warriors, Lakers star Luka Doncic delivered a subpar performance by his standards, scoring just 19 points on a rough 6-of-17 shooting night, including a frustrating 0-for-6 from beyond the arc. The Lakers fell short, 123-116, despite strong performances from LeBron James and Austin Reaves, who each poured in over 30 points.
“That performance by me is unacceptable,” Doncic admitted after the game, taking responsibility for the loss.
Head coach JJ Redick echoed his star’s sentiment: “It wasn’t his night.”
Doncic had a late-game opportunity to redeem himself. With under a minute left, the Lakers had cut the deficit to six after a clutch three from Reaves. Following a Warriors miss, Doncic took the ball coast-to-coast but had it stripped by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Draymond Green as he drove for a layup. Moments later, LeBron intercepted a pass from Green, but a miscommunication between Doncic and teammate Dorian Finney-Smith resulted in a costly turnover that effectively sealed the game for Golden State.
Doncic’s recent shooting struggles have become a concerning trend. He’s hit just three of his last 22 attempts from deep over the past three games and hasn’t looked like the consistent offensive force the Lakers were hoping for when they made the blockbuster trade to acquire him in February. That deal sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick to Dallas — a move that sent shockwaves through the league.
Questions about Doncic’s conditioning have resurfaced as well, something his former Mavericks team quietly criticized before the trade. Still, he’s logged heavy minutes, averaging 38 per game over his last six outings.
Thursday’s loss dropped the Lakers to the No. 4 seed in a tightly packed Western Conference race. Just two games separate them from the eighth-seeded Clippers, and a few more losses could easily push them into the play-in tournament. As it stands, they’re projected to face the red-hot Warriors — now 20-5 since acquiring Jimmy Butler — in a tough 4-5 first-round series.
Should they get past Golden State, things only get harder. Their next opponent would likely be the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, who boast the NBA’s best record at 64-12 and have dominated with a league-best +14.1 net rating since the All-Star break. The Warriors rank second in that stretch, and the reigning champion Celtics come in third — making the Lakers’ potential playoff path one of the most difficult in recent memory.
The team’s resilience will be put to the test once again on Sunday when they face the Thunder in a matchup that could serve as a preview of what’s to come — and a major gut check for Luka Doncic and the Lakers