Los Angeles Lakers Girdle Cadon Sic (77) responds on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, in Los Angeles after taking a shot late in an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets. (AP Photo/William Leanne)
LOS ANGELES – Luka Donsic couldn’t find his shot in his third game against the Los Angeles Lakers, and LeBron James couldn’t make up for it.
But the Lakers say they’re not worried after embarrassing the Charlotte Hornets at a 100-97 loss on Wednesday night.
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Doncic scored 14 points on five-in-a-eight shots, including a 9-on-9 performance on a three-point attempt. The Slovenian superstar added 11 rebounds and eight assists, but played 33 minutes in his longest performance since joining the Lakers in a smash hit trade with Dallas, while still having six turnovers and five I committed a person’s personal foul.
Read: NBA: Luka Doncic activates LeBron James when Homestretch begins
“It’s obviously going to take a little while,” Donsic said. “There’s a lot of rust from my side today. I started the game with four or five turnovers. That’s not happening. I’ve started playing basketball the right way.”
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The evening was clearly annoyed for Donsic, who was playing only his third NBA game after 6 1/2 weeks of absence due to calf tension that occurred at Christmas. A few times when this usual, moving scorer managed to get a shot against the Hornets, Donsic responded with a visible mix of relief and frustration.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Gardolka Donsic (77) drove the ball on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, chased by Charlotte Hornets guard Elfrid Payton (22) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles. Masu. (AP Photo/William Leanne)
Doncic is 16 at 45 from the field in three games against the Lakers, but only 5 at 24 on a 3-point attempt. Two home games were 2-1 at 16, with fans groaning in anticipation of each shot. Each crank.
Though consecutive losses to Utah and Charlotte, who live in the cellar, are tough for the team that scored 10 of 11, the 40-year-old James is also not worried about Donsic’s start in purple and gold.
Read: NBA: Luka Doncic quickly connects with LeBron James in Lakers debut
“It’s his third game since Christmas and his third game with us,” James said. “He doesn’t know all the plays yet. He doesn’t know all the defensive coverage, all the signals we’ve built since September. Obviously, we’re “We’re trying to quickly track it down on the spot. He’s back from his injury. He’s back to form, so we’re working together.”
Not all were harsh about Donsic’s performance against Charlotte. He led Los Angeles on a rebound and his plus-13 rating was the Lakers’ highest number despite his departure.
“He has to be comfortable being himself because he is one of the best players in the world,” said the Hornets’ 22-1 run, following the rapid third quarter emissions. Austin Reeves said. “We need him to be him. It only takes weeks, weeks to understand that best look. But we can get it pretty quickly.”
With the game on the line in the final seconds, Donsic had the ball in James, missing two 3-point attempts in the final six seconds. Doncic had no problem not being in the spotlight late in the game.
Read: NBA: Luka Donsic is hungry to win the title with Lakers
“He was going on with it, so obviously we’re going to go to him,” Donsic said. “I think it goes both ways. One day it becomes him and once it becomes me. I think it depends on how the game goes.”
The Lakers acquired Doncic from Mavs on the seismic trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas on February 2nd.
Donsic played both the Lakers’ final two games before the All-Star break, but he only recorded 47 minutes in total, but the Lakers brought him back into the competition. Doncic then recovered and resetted for several days, with the remaining top players in the NBA being called up in San Francisco for the All-Star Game.
“To be honest, I was turning my mind a bit out of basketball,” Donsic said. “I’m excited to go back and play. I missed a lot of time. I’ve never missed so much time, so it was new to me. Now I’m going to play. I’m excited to go back.”
Donsic doesn’t have time to stick to this slow start. The Lakers will jump on the plane after their defeat and face the Trail Blazers on Thursday before visiting Denver on Saturday.
And the Lakers’ next home game? They are against the Mavericks on Tuesday.
With the midseason trade shocks fading more every day, Donsic wants to look to the future.
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“It’s one of the greatest clubs in the world and I’m happy to be here,” Donsic said. “It obviously takes time, but I’m happy to represent the Lakers.”
