Latest news with #Donc
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Luka Dončić calls his performance 'unacceptable' in Lakers' loss to Warriors
Hear this story LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers carried one of the better home records into Thursday's playoff-like game against the Golden State Warriors but were unsuccessful in their attempt to further cement its place in the Western Conference standings. Point guard Luka Dončić sat at his locker with his head down while scrolling on his phone following the 123-116 home loss. The dejected Dončić made his way to the podium for his postgame press conference shortly after and admitted he wasn't pleased with his overall performance. "I think (the Warriors) were playing good defense and I think we didn't play with enough trust," Dončić said. "That performance for me was unacceptable and when I play like that, it makes it harder for my team to win." Dončić was limited to 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers in nearly 38 minutes of play. Dončić shot 6-of-17 from the field and did not make any of his six three-point attempts. He did capitalize on his free throw attempts, making all seven. "It's always frustrating when you can't help your team, but it's not always about scoring," he said. "You can do other stuff on the court. I try to help in other ways." "It wasn't his night," Lakers coach JJ Redick said when asked about Dončić and the Warriors' effort to exploit the guard as a defender. Dončić played just under eight minutes down the stretch of the game as the Lakers attempted to close in on the Warriors' lead but was limited to just two points and shot 1-for-3 from the field. "Jimmy (Butler) did a great job of standing in front of him and forcing him into a tough situation," Warriors forward Draymond Green said about his team's defense against Dončić late in the game. "He drove him right down to me. The only pass he really got is to (Jaxson Hayes) and that guy's gotta shoot a floater or gotta go through my chest to get the layup. "I felt comfortable enough to go for it. He put the ball out there, so at worst, I'm going to foul him, but he ain't getting the and-one. It's two free throws, so taking advantage of an opportunity to make a play." Luka Dončić health update Dončić's availability for the second night of a back-to-back could be considered a game-time decision as the Lakers will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday evening. The Slovenian did not appear on the Lakers' injury report Wednesday night but was seen with tape around his left elbow during pregame warmups. The tape remained on his arm during the game but was covered up with an arm sleeve. "It's fine," Dončić said. "It's my left (arm). It's fine." Dončić, who primarily shoots with his right hand, took a hard fall on his left elbow during the previous game against the Houston Rockets on Monday. Lakers' playoff situation The Lakers are now the fourth seed in the Western Conference standings and sit a half-game back of the Denver Nuggets. The Warriors are one game behind the Lakers as the fifth seed. If the season ended today, the Lakers and Warriors would square off in the first round. Los Angeles entered Thursday as the third seed.
USA Today
09-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How many points did Luka Doncic score tonight? Lakers vs. Celtics stats
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić returned to Boston Saturday to play against a familiar foe. Dončić fell short of a championship last season as the Boston Celtics knocked off the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the NBA Finals. Dončić has averaged 23.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.1 assists in his first 10 games with the Lakers. He was listed as probable on the team's injury report with a right knee contusion but was good to go and in the starting lineup. Here's how Dončić performed Saturday night: Luka Doncic stats vs. Celtics Points: 34 34 FG: 11-for-22 11-for-22 3PT : 5-for-10 : 5-for-10 FT : 7-for-8 : 7-for-8 Rebounds: 8 8 Assists: 3 3 Steals: 1 1 Blocks: 0 0 Turnovers: 5 5 Fouls: 2 2 Minutes played: 37 Lakers vs. Celtics highlights Lakers' next game The Lakers will travel to play the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, March 10 (7:30 p.m. ET). The game will air on Spectrum SportsNet and the YES Network.
USA Today
01-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How many points did Luka Doncic score tonight? Lakers vs. Clippers stats
Luka Dončić was in the Los Angeles Lakers' starting lineup Friday night, on his birthday, for a game against the crosstown rival L.A. Clippers. Dončić and the Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-102 Thursday. The Lakers are now 8-2 overall since Dončić was traded to Los Angeles (4-2 when he's been in the starting lineup). Dončić turned 26 years old on Friday and was considered a game-time decision coming into the game. He went through pregame warmups to see if he was comfortable competing in the second game of a back-to-back. He's missed some games in recent weeks due to left calf injury management. The Slovenian registered the sixth-most points by a player under the age of 26 in NBA history with 12,205. The five ahead of him are: LeBron James (16,081), Kevin Durant (14,851), Carmelo Anthony (12,711), Tracy McGrady (12,423) and Kobe Bryant (12,215). Dončić's 1,287 3-pointers is a league record for a player under age 26. All things Lakers: Latest Los Angeles Lakers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more. Here's how Dončić celebrated his birthday on the court: Luka Doncic stats vs. Clippers After second quarter: Points: 11 11 FG: 4-for-11 4-for-11 3PT : 1-for-5 : 1-for-5 FT : 2-for-2 : 2-for-2 Rebounds: 1 1 Assists: 3 3 Steals: 3 3 Blocks: 0 0 Turnovers: 2 2 Fouls: 2 2 Minutes played: 17 Lakers' next game The Lakers will play the Clippers again on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. ET. The game is not scheduled to be on national TV.
USA Today
23-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Luka Dončić update: Will he play for Lakers in showdown vs. Nuggets?
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić continues to find his rhythm and confidence since returning to the court for action in recent weeks. Dončić has played in three games since arriving in Los Angeles after being traded by the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers are back in action Saturday for a game in Denver. The Nuggets are third in the Western Conference standings to enter the weekend behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies. The Lakers are currently fifth behind the Houston Rockets. The Lakers are coming off a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday following a pair of losses to the Utah Jazz and the Charlotte Hornets, who are ranked 14th in their respective conferences. Here's what you need to know about Dončić. All things Lakers: Latest Los Angeles Lakers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more. More:Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki explains support for Luka Doncic following trade to Lakers What's Luka Dončić's status for Saturday vs. Denver Nuggets? Dončić missed Thursday's game against the Trail Blazers due to left calf injury management. On Friday, the Lakers listed Dončić as probable for the upcoming Western Conference showdown against Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets. Dončić has averaged 14.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 26.7 minutes per game in a Lakers uniform. Lakers continue to monitor Dončić's status Coach JJ Redick mentioned last week that Dončić would no longer be on a minutes restriction as he was for the first two games as he adapted to his new surroundings and played for the first time since Christmas. Dončić recently sat out the second game of a back-to-back. He played 33 minutes against the Hornets. Before Redick's comments about no longer limiting his minutes, Dončić played 24 and 23 minutes respectively in his first two games.
USA Today
22-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki explains support for Luka Doncic following trade to Lakers
Hear this story Dirk Nowitzki made a name for himself during his 21-year NBA career as the preeminent star of the Dallas Mavericks. Nowitzki was a 14-time All-Star and the 2007 Most Valuable Player with the Mavericks and led them to the 2011 NBA championship. His loyalty was rewarded with a white bronze statue outside the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Nowitzki, who inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 202 has also displayed the same level of loyalty to former teammate Luka Dončić. The stars played together for one year in Dallas – Nowitzki's final season in the NBA and Dončić's first. Here's how Nowitzki has remained a symbol of support in recent weeks: 'THIS IS A FRESH START'Dončić comments on trade to Lakers Dirk Nowitzki explains his support for Luka Doncic Dončić was in his seventh season as a featured member of the Mavericks' roster before the organization decided to trade away the international superstar to the Los Angeles Lakers in a transaction that featured Anthony Davis. The crowd inside Arena in Los Angeles showed their support for Dončić when he made his official debut with the Lakers in a 132-113 victory over the Utah Jazz on Feb. 10. Among those fans in the crowd were Dončić's family and Nowitzki. "We texted a bit, and I felt a little disappointed and sad for him,' Nowitzki said on 96.7 The Ticket in Dallas-Fort Worth. '... He invited me out to his first game in LA. I felt like I had to support him." Nowitzki and Dončić have become close following their one shared season and the German legend's retirement, and Nowitzki has served as a mentor to the Slovenian. 'IT FELT AMAZING':Luka Dončić feels Lakers fans' love in debut Reaction to Dirk Nowitzki being at Lakers game to support Luka Doncic Nowitzki shared on social media in the hours leading up to Dončić's debut that he was planning to be in attendance for the game. "I will always be a Mav for life," Nowitzki said at the beginning of the tweet. While Nowitzki's loyalty was never really questioned, his appearance at the Lakers game still served as odd timing for some Dallas fans, who were not pleased with the organization's decision to trade their superstar away. Several fans expressed their displeasure with the team by speaking out near Nowitzki's statue in Dallas. Even Nowitzki himself admitted that being at the Lakers game was a bit awkward for him. "He's a good kid so I felt like I had to support him with this new chapter," Nowitzki said. "I wanted to be there for him and his family and show support but you guys saw my face. It was weird and it was surreal to see him play for the Lakers. "At the end of the day, I will never be a Lakers fan but I will always be a Luka fan." How did Dirk Nowitzki react to the Luka Doncic trade? Nowitzki said he was on vacation in the Maldives when he heard about the trade that sent Dončić to the Lakers. "I was as shocked and surprised as everybody was," Nowitzki said. "I just spent the next hour following everything on social media."
