Doncic travels at a different speed
After a stumble in Atlanta, Los Angeles bounced back in Charlotte with Luka Doncic leading another commanding performance.
There was no time to lose in fixing the Lakers’ image. Their East Coast road trip had started poorly in Atlanta, where they looked flat against the Hawks, and fate took them next to Charlotte on Monday night – one of the weakest teams in the league at this point, by any measure. It was also the night Austin Reaves returned after a week sidelined, teaming up again with leader Luka Doncic. Using bullfighting terms, this was a routine but polished faena in the Hornets’ arena.
The matchup that opened a new NBA week ended 111-121 at the Spectrum Center, with fans in Charlotte eager to see one of the league’s most followed teams in their only visit of the season. Rookie Kon Knueppel nearly notched a triple-double – 19 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists – trying to keep his team in the game, though they never truly threatened Los Angeles. The intention was there, but the reality was dictated by L.A.
The Lakers claimed their eighth win of the season in their eleventh outing, starting steady but shaky before tightening up in the second and third quarters – the stretch that defined the contest. From there, it was smooth sailing. The starters carried most of the weight, with coach J.J. Redick not needing to dip deep into the bench.
Reaves, limited to 30 minutes to avoid aggravating a groin issue, returned with 24 points. Rui Hachimura was also solid with 21 points and just three missed shots, while Deandre Ayton (14) and Marcus Smart (13) gave consistent support. Together, they provided cover for Doncic’s 38 points in 38 minutes, shooting a clean 50% (14-for-28) from the field. The bench added just eleven of the 121 total.
Charlotte’s 22 turnovers – double L.A.’s tally – told the story, especially after halftime. Too many errors, and these Lakers don’t forgive. Miles Bridges led the Hornets’ scoring but his and his teammates’ defensive lapses left them no chance against one of the hottest squads in the league.
Doncic again dictated everything for Los Angeles – even the unexpected, like a dead-ball shot he sank full court while the cameras weren’t rolling. His flaw on the night was the long ball, missing 10 of 15 from beyond the arc. But when you deliver this much, a few misfires hardly matter. The Slovenian engineered the Lakers’ decisive 15-31 run in the third quarter, aided by Hachimura’s 13 points in that frame.
The Hornets had started freely, with four Bridges threes and 40 points in the opening quarter – a stark contrast to what came later. After a Doncic triple and a buzzer-beater from Reaves, Redick’s men took the lead at halftime and never looked back. Charlotte’s defense crumbled, their offense stagnated, and their late push fizzled around the ten-point margin. At no point did they truly threaten the Lakers.
Other NBA results:
- Pistons 137 – Wizards 135
- Magic 115 – Blazers 112
- Mavericks 114 – Bucks 116
- Suns 121 – Pelicans 98
- Jazz 113 – Timberwolves 120
- Clippers 102 – Hawks 105
- Heat 140 – Cavaliers 138
- Bulls 117 – Spurs 121
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