By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The first game after the All-Star break didn’t end the way the Los Angeles Lakers had hoped. Luka Doncic finally played without a minutes restriction, but they still fell to the Charlotte Hornets.
The Slovenian star, who recently joined the team from the Dallas Mavericks in a historic trade, was on the verge of a triple-double in 33 minutes but scored just 14 points on 5/18 shooting from the field.
So far, he has played three games as a Laker, averaging 14.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists, keeping in mind that he was on a minutes restriction for the first two matches. The LA team is 1-2 since his debut.
“Obviously, it’s going to take a little time. A lot of rustiness on my part—I started the game with four or five turnovers, which can’t happen. Just gotta play basketball the right way,” Luka said after the loss to the Hornets.
He also touched on how the Lakers‘ offense is coming together.
“I think it was good, but we need a little time just to adjust to everything. But I think it was fine today. I think we had some good opportunities to make shots, but we didn’t make them—especially me. Just need a little time to get used to it.”
In the decisive moments of the game, the ball was going to LeBron James, but he missed two opportunities to tie the game in the final moments.
“It’s both ways—he had it going, so obviously we were going to him. One time it’s going to be him, one time me. It depends on how the game is going.”
Doncic also spoke about how he used the All-Star break.
“I was getting my mind off basketball. I’ve never missed this much time, so it’s new to me. But I was excited to get back and play,” Luka Doncic concluded.