Doncic is already here: “I’m a natural-born wide receiver and he’s a natural-born quarterback, so it fits perfectly”

After weeks of back-and-forth, conspiracy theories, and comments about his fitness and work ethic, we finally saw Luka Doncic be Luka Doncic again. Nearly two months after injuring his calf on Christmas Day, Doncic reminded everyone why he’s one of the best players on the planet. No one knew at the time that his last game with the Dallas Mavericks would be on that fateful day, and that the next time we’d see him dominate would be in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey. That happened on Saturday night in Denver, where the Nuggets came in on a nine-game winning streak. The Lakers hadn’t won in Denver since April 2022, and had lost 13 of their last 14 matchups against the Nuggets, a sequence that includes two playoff series. But in Colorado on Saturday, Doncic led the Lakers to a commanding 123-100 victory.

Lakers on top from start to finish

To give you an idea of the Lakers' dominance, they never trailed for a single second. Doncic, known for his explosive starts in Dallas, was back to his old self. The Slovenian star had averaged just 14.7 points in his first three games in purple and gold, a low figure by his standards. In Denver, he surpassed that mark within the first 10 minutes. By halftime, the Lakers had built a 23-point lead, thanks in large part to the Nuggets' turnovers (12 by halftime, 20 by the end). An uncharacteristically sloppy Nikola Jokic, who has tormented the Lakers for years, committed six of those turnovers. He finished with another triple-double but managed only 12 points on a poor 2-for-7 shooting night.

“It fits perfectly” - LeBron lauds Luka

The Nuggets managed to keep the game within reach, trailing 63-54 at halftime, and scored the first eight points of the second half. But the Lakers responded with a 10-0 run. Russell Westbrook (17 points) tried to keep the Nuggets in the game, but the Lakers' supporting cast stepped up to maintain their lead. Austin Reaves scored 23 points and dished out seven assists, while Rui Hachimura added 21 points, both tormenting Denver from beyond the arc with a combined 8-for-16 shooting. LeBron James enjoyed Doncic’s playmaking, which included several long passes leading to easy baskets and dunks. James finished with 25 points. “I’m a natural-born wide receiver and he’s a natural-born quarterback, so it fits perfectly,” LeBron said after the game.

What were Doncic’s stats in Lakers' win in Denver?

In 31 minutes, his most since joining the Lakers, Doncic scored 32 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, handed out seven assists and recorded four steals, leading the team to a +20 with him on the court. He capped off his performance with a 27-13 run in the fourth quarter, leaving no doubt about which team was superior in Denver on Saturday night. This victory should boost Doncic’s confidence after being sidelined for so long with his calf injury. It also gives the Lakers a crucial win on a court that has been a nightmare for them. This victory could be key in the battle for top spots in the Western Conference, as the Nuggets, now third, are just two wins ahead of the fourth-place Lakers.

Article originally written in Spanish, before being translated with the assistance of AI, and edited by William Allen.

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