Luka Dončić has officially arrived for the Los Angeles Lakers. After a few slow games, Los Angeles got its first performance befitting all the hype surrounding the former Dallas Mavericks star in their decisive 123-100 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
Dončić shone bright, finishing with 32 points on 10-of-22 shooting, accompanied by 10 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals. The young star exuded confidence, expressing, "Finally felt like myself a little bit, so that's why I was smiling the whole game," to ESPN after the match.
He made his presence felt early, scoring 16 points in the first quarter alone, showcasing the long-range shooting skills he was known for with Dallas. Fans were treated to familiar moves as he sank heat-check shots from deep, igniting hope for Lakers supporters eager to see him regain his form.
But it wasn't just Dončić lighting up the scoreboard. The Lakers as a whole found their rhythm, with three additional players scoring over 20 points: LeBron James (25 points), Austin Reaves (23 points), and Rui Hachimura (21 points). Together, they combined forces to crush Denver's defense. Notably, the team executed their game plan to perfection, having limited Nikola Jokić to just 12 points on 2-of-7 shooting, along with 13 rebounds and 10 assists, marred by six turnovers.
Jokić, the three-time MVP, could not find his groove against the relentless Lakers defense, which forced the Nuggets to commit 21 turnovers throughout the game. This marked the Lakers' first victory against Denver since April 10, 2022, and they did not trail at any point during the game, with their lead swelling to as much as 26 points.
The win solidified the Lakers' record at 34-21, placing them fifth in the Western Conference and just behind the fourth-place Houston Rockets. This success stood as significant progress considering the Lakers had lost 13 of their past 14 encounters against Denver prior to this win, and the Nuggets were riding high on a nine-game winning streak before meeting their match.
Entering the game, Dončić's initial outings with the Lakers had not impressed fans or analysts alike. He made his debut just last week after recovering from a calf strain, which kept him out of action for over a week and prevented him from joining the team for the second leg of a back-to-back game. This resulted in performances from the talented guard averaging only 14.7 points per game on .356 shooting, starkly down from his previous Dallas numbers. He was still adjusting to game plans and systems new to him, having been a ball-dominant player for the Mavericks.
LeBron James, confident in his new teammate, was unconcerned about Dončić's early struggles, saying, "It’s his third game since Christmas, and it’s his third game with us. He still doesn’t know all the plays. He doesn’t know all the defensive coverages, all the signals and things we’ve built up since September. Obviously, we’re trying to fast-track it on the fly. He’s coming back from his injury. He’s getting back to form, so we’re working through it together." James' faith seemed well-placed as Dončić's performance against the Nuggets could be seen as the emergence of chemistry between him and his new team.
After this game, the Lakers are gearing up for their next challenge as they host the Mavericks on Tuesday night, marking Dončić's first encounter with his former team. With the right support and continual improvement, this matchup holds the potential for thrilling narratives as Dončić looks to showcase his abilities against the franchise he once starred for.
With the Lakers focused on improving their title odds, which have skyrocketed from +4000 before Dončić's trade to +1400 entering this game, the team’s loyalty and hope rest on his continued performance. If he can repeat Saturday’s success consistently, Los Angeles could just be one step closer to capturing another championship.
All eyes are now on Dončić as he steps onto the court against the Mavericks, echoing the fundamental question surrounding both the player and the team: Can he maintain this momentum and seamlessly integrate with his new teammates? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: Saturday’s win marked not just the end of the losing streak against the Nuggets but perhaps the beginning of something special for the Lakers and Dončić alike.