Jazz 113 vs 132 Lakers summary, stats, scores and highlights | Luka Doncic’s debut
It's been an emotional last few days for Luka Doncic who had to leave the place he called home since he was a teenager. He finally got back to doing what he does best, and what he loves to do most and you can see the spark is finally back in his eye. He feels at home, and thanked the fans for the love while talking about the exciting future of this team.
Here is a recap of Luka's best plays as he starts to write the next chapter of his career from LA.
After not playing for the last six weeks, Luka came back from injury and played 24 minutes, scored 14 points grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 4 assists in his debut. The game got out of hand in the second half for the Jazz, so LA coach JJ Reddick let Luka rest the final 12 minutes.
It's always a special occasion when the Lakers play in LA, but the stars of the city where out to welcome the newest superstar to town. Luka drew a big, star studded crowd. Adele, Floyd Mayweather, and Will Ferrell all came out to get a first glimpse of Luka as a Laker.
It's not going to take long for these offensive geniuses to know exactly how each other play and where they are going to be on the floor. They already have an understanding that comes naturally to elite players and the more time they spend on the court together the more they will build that chemistry.
With Dirk Nowitzki in the crowd showing support for Luka and sitting with his dad at Crypto.com Arena, LeBron went for a little homage fader from the corner as he put up 24, 7 and 8 assists to lead the Lakers.
With two of the leagues best scorers on the floor, all the other guys are going to get a lot more open looks. Rui Hachimura took advantage in Luka's debut, scoring 21 points, including this one off the pass from Luka.
It wasn't just Luka we wanted to see. We wanted to see how he and LeBron could work together as teammates, and there was no struggle at all between the two super stars. They did play the Jazz who are the third worst team in the league, but this was a cozy introduction for Luka and LeBron who showed there is going to be no struggle sharing the ball in LaLa Land.
It didn't take Luka very long to get his first bucket in a Laker uniform, and he wouldn't have it any other way. His opening bucket in his new home was one of his patented step back threes in the face of a defender. The three ball was met with a roar from the crowd that has been so eagerly awaiting to welcome their new star.
LeBron has talked about Luka being his favorite player for a long time, and for the first team outside of an All-Star game, they suited up on the same team. He had a clear message for his new teammate. Be Luka.
The Los Angeles Lakers won their sixth straight game and their 10th in their last 11, but that wasn't why the Crypto.com Arena was buzzing on Monday night. For the first time since the blockbuster trade that sent shockwaves through the NBA, Luka Doncic made his Lakers debut. He was announced in front of a star studded arena in a scene that is going to become very familiar to the Lakers fans for a long while.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
THE LAKERS NEW ERA STARTS WITH ANOTHER WIN, THEIR SIXTH STRAIGHT AS LUKA'S DEBUT IS A BLOW OUT WIN OVER JAZZ!!!
Filipowski with the lay up and the foul on Jemison. He hits the FT for the three point play.
Jameson down the land and he drops the hammer off the Morris dish.
Easy slam for Collier in transition as the Lakers D has turned off.
Juzang to the line again and he hits both FTs after the foul on Morris.
Filipowski answers back with a three ball of his own as we are under 2:00 to go in the 4th.
Morris off the bench and he drains the three ball!
Juzang to the lie after the foul on Jemison and he hits one of two.
Timeout LA with 2:57 to go.
Collier drive down the lane and gets the tear drop to go.
Filipowski hits a three ball from the corner.
Goodwin from the elbow and he hits the three ball from the win.
Juzang underneath and he gets the roll in traffic.
Goodwin with the pull off from the FT line after the between the legs dribble.
Collier in the corner and he drains the three ball.
Goodwin with the spot up jumper from outside the lane.
George sticks the three ball in the face of a defender.
Milton to the line after the foul on Collier and eh hits both FTs.
Goodwin on the baseline and he hits the floater.
Collins with the elbow jumper and the foul! FT is good after the foul on Jemison.
Juzang in the corner and he hits the three off the dish from Collins!
Reaves with the double clutch jumper and that falls with the foul! FT is good. He's got 22.
Reaves with the steal and he takes it all the way after faking the alley oop and laying it up. Timeout Utah with 8:00 to go.
Vincent in the corner and he hits the three while tip toeing the sideline.
Hachimura gets the roll from the FT line, he's got 21 points on the night.
Juzang pulls up from downtown and he hits the deep ball.
Kessler heads to the line after grabbing the offensive board and he hits both FTs.
Hachimura at the FT line and he hits the mid range jumper.
Goodwin gets the roll on the floater from outside he lane.
Kessler gets the bucket and the foul and hits the FT after LeBron got a piece of him on the way up.
LeBron gets his own rebound and puts it back up and in under the bucket.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE FOURTH QUARTER FROM LA!!!
Collier with the rebound and he looks up to George for the lay up on the break.
Timeout LA with 44.4 to go in the third quarter.
LeBron running the break and he lobs it up for Hayes for the alley oop slam!!!
LeBron with a long ball fro the top of the key off the dish from Vincent!
Collier down the lane and he hits the soft tear drop.
Vincent sends George to the line and he hits both FTs.
Reaves to the line after a foul on Sensabaug and he hits both FTs.
Timeout from LA with 2:33 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Hayes sends George to the line and he hits both FTs.
Clarkson to the iron off the dish from George and he lays it up and in.
Hachimura was left open in the corner and he strokes the three ball!
Kessler fighting for the offensive board and the put back.
Clarkson drills the three ball from the top of the key! Utah are still down by 27 mid way through the 3rd.
Markkanen with the steal and the slam, and he's been the only one really producing for the Jazz.
Kesler with the lay up off the Clarkson assist.
LeBron missed the three but Hachimura was there for the tip in.
Collier sends LeBron to the line and he hits one of two.
Doncic with a long pass to LeBron and he takes it to the rack for the lay up in transition.
James kicks it out to Hachimura who hits the three from the corner!!
James with a pull up three from the top of the key and he drills it!
Markkanen down low and he finishes in traffic.
Clarkson steps into a three ball and drills it from the top of the key.
Collier dumps it off to Kessler for the slam under the iron.
Tough shot from Markkanen in the face of Hayes from the elbow.
Doncic with the dribble drive and he gets the bucket and the foul on Collins. FT is good for the three point play, he's got 12.
James up top for Hayes and he lays it up and in.
Luka starts the half off with a lob up to Hayes who throws it down!
WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!!
It's been all Lakers since the tip off in LA. They jumped out to an early lead thanks to quick starts from LeBron and Austin Reaves. James has 13, 5 and 3 while Reaves leads all scorers with 15.
In typical Luka fashion, his first points as a Laker comes from a step back three ball. We are going to be seeing plenty more of that in LA for the long term future. He's got 11 points on 4/9 shooting to go along with 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
Before Luka took the floor in Crypto.com Arena, we heard something that we will be getting very used to over the next few years. Luka Doncic was introduced as a Laker for the first time ever.
WE ARE HEADING TO HALFTIME FROM CRYPTO ARENA!!!
Reaves with the offensive rebound off the Doncic miss and he hits the three ball to close out the first half!!!
Luka with the rebound and he looks up for LeBron for the easy lay up in transition.
Luka to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Clarkson.
Clarkson drills the three ball from the wing off the dish from George.
Finney-Smith with the lay up after Hayes found him streaking to the iron.
LeBron lost the handle and that leads to an alley opp from Markkanen to Kessler.
Collins to the line after the foul on Finney-Smith and he hits both FTs.
Finney-Smith at the line after the foul on Markkannen and he hits both FTs.
Timeout Jazz with 2:49 to go in the 1st half.
Vincent beats the shot clock buzzer with a three ball after the kick out from LeBron!
Markkanen gets to the bucket and he lays it up and in.
Doncic explodes to the bucket and gets the lay up to fall. He's got 9 points.
Juzang in the corner and he drills the three ball!
Tough drive and finish from Markkannen who hits the leaner in the lane.
Hachimura puts it on the deck and he finishes in traffic.
Doncic backing down the defender and he hits the fade away from outside the paint.
Collins with the offensive board and he hits the turn around hook shot.
TV timeout from LA with 6:38 to go in the 2nd quarter.
Luka kicks it out to Hachimura in the corner and he strokes the three ball!
Goodwin wiggles into the lane and floats it in from the middle of the paint.
Long pass up to a wide open COllier who lays it up and in.
Goodwin got a couple of offensive rebounds and on the second one he puts it up and in.
Reaves was fouled by Collins and he hits both FTs.
Reaves sends Collins to the line where he hits one of two.
James in the corner and he hits the fader over Kessler.
Collier with a wide open path to the rack and he lays it up and in.
James with a cross over at the top of the key and he had his lay up goal tended by Sensabaugh.
Reaves with a leaner from outside the lane and he banks it in.
Hachimua called for the foul on Sensabaugh and he hits one of two FTs.
We are at the end of the first quarter with the Lakers leading by 13. Luka got his first bucket of the night with a step back three, and has five points after 12 minutes. Reaves is the top scorer with 8 points and LeBron has 7.
Potter got a defensive rebounds and was fouled so he goes to the line with 0.9 left in the quarter and hits both FTs.
George was fouled by Hayes and he hits both FTs.
LeBron with a spot up from the top of the key and he strokes the three ball!
Vincent missed his three ball but Goodwin was there with the tip in.
Luka's first bucket is one of his patented step back three balls from the top of the key. Get used to it LA, there's plenty more were that came from.
Hayes finds Vincent on the kick out and he sticks the three ball! Timeout from LA with 2:51 to go in the first quarter.
Markkanene with the spot up and he hits the mid range J.
Slip pass down low from Vincent to Hayes and he slams it home from down low.
Reaves with a step back three ball from the top of the key!
Markkanen with the slam after the lob from George.
Vincent spots up for a deep two from a foot inside line.
George lays it off for Collins who smashes it home with two hands.
Luka and LeBron go to the bench, and Collins gets go the line where he hits both FTs after the foul on Hachimura.
Luka sneaks underneath to steal the offensive rebound and puts it back quickly.
Clarkson gets by Luka and he hits the floater in the lane.
LeBron with a turn around fade away and he is starting to warm up.
James into the paint and he hits the fade away from inside the FT line.
Clarkson hits one of two FTs to break the 8-0 LA run.
Clarkson is fouled by Hachimura and he will go to the line after our first TV timeout with 6:51 to go in the first quarter.
Reaves was fouled by Collins, and he goes to the line where he makes both FTs.
LUKA IS ON THE BOARD FROM THE FIRST TIME AS A LAKER AS HE HITS THE STEP BACK THREE FROM THE TOP OF THE KEY!!!
Reaves drills the three ball from the wing after scoring 45 last game!
Collins with the drive and double clutch lay up at the iron.
Hachimura fouled by Collier and he goes to the line where he hits both FTs.
Collins with a three ball over Luka to give the Jazz their first lead of the night!
Markkannen drills a spot up three from the wing!
Hachimura with a slash to the rack and he slams it home. A few easy bucket out of the gate for LA.
Clarkson pulls up from the mid range and knocks down the short shot to put the Jazz on the board.
Luka's turn, as he touches the ball first the first time and he lobs it up to Hayes for another alley oop.
James sarts off running the offense and he lobs one up to Hayes for an alley oop!
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM LOS ANGELES!!!
LeBron’s favorite player
The admiration is mutual. Even one of the greatest players in the NBA can have a favorite player in the league for a long time. The Slovenian has always been an opponent of LeBron, barring a couple of All-Star games, but now the two generational stars are going to be teaming up. “Luka has been my favorite player in the NBA for a while now,” James said Tuesday night after scoring 26 points in the Lakers’ blowout win over the Clippers. “I’ve always just tried to play the game the right way and inspire the next generation, and Luka happens to be one of them, and now we’re teammates. So it’ll be a very seamless transition.”
Luka’s dream come true
Growing up as a kid in Slovenia and Spain, Luka had one guy he looked up to more than anyone in the NBA. When Luka was born, 26 years ago, LeBron was 14 years old and already being dubbed the next super star of the next generation. In an interview when Luka was still a baby faced youngster, he told reporters LeBron James was his favorite player growing up, following with “He’s like, my idol so I’m looking forward to that,” when talking about matching up with the four time NBA champ.
Why No. 77?
Kids and adults everywhere have been buying Luka Doncic jerseys since he was even in the NBA. As a teenager in Spain, his jersey was seen all over the Wizink Center in the capital city of Madrid as he played for the winningest club in European history, Real Madrid. It didn’t take fans across the pond long to start donning the Doncic jersey with his famous number 77. If you don’t know whe Luka wears that number, it’s too honor a European legend. Who? Our Paul Reidy has more.
First appearance
Ladies and gentleman our first look at Luka Doncic in Crypto.com Arena. He hasn't played since Christmas, but his calf strain is looking okay on these jumpers. The countdown is on. Luka in LA.
Doncic’s donation
He may have been stunned, and even saddened by the news that he was leaving Dallas for LA, but it didn’t take long to melt the hearts of Lakers fans everywhere, even before he stepped on the floor at Crypto.com Arena. After wildfires ravaged the Los Angeles area last month, many people lost their homes, and some are still picking up the pieces to their lives. Not long after landing in LA, he made a massive $500,000 donation to aid immediate recovery efforts. He will be making his debut on the court tonight, but he has already made is way into the hearts of the Los Angeles community.
LeBron questionable?
I hate to rain on the parade and Luka’s debut, but we may not be seeing Luka and LeBron suiting up tonight. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer was listed on the Laker injury report for tonight’s game with ankle soreness. He missed the game against the Pacers, and his status is up in the air for tonight’s game. If we know LeBron like we think we do, there is no way he’s going to miss this game. He is a showman almost as much as a basketball player and he knows that tonight, the eyes of the world will be watching for their first glimpse at what the Lakers future is going to look like.
Reaction in Dallas
The smoke is still billowing in Dallas. If the players were shocked around the NBA in the wake of the news, imagine if you are a season ticket holder who thought you had another decade of Luka Magic waiting for you in American Airlines center. We have seen protests, we have seen funerals and we have seen outpour of devastation. Mavs’ general manager Nico Harrison put the weight of this decision on his shoulders and has felt the consequences of trading away a generational talent. To make matters worse, Anthony Davis who they traded for got hurt in his first game in Dallas, and he will be out for a least a few weeks.
Luka’s fitness
We can’t mention the trade and the motives for it without mentioning Luka’s conditioning. Apparently that was a main factor in the Mavs decision to send Luka to Dallas. His defense is less than extraordinary, and that has shown it’s ugly face from time to time. While he more than makes up for that on the offensive end, it’s been his fitness that has followed him all his career and opened the door to critics. He has one of the most physically imposing players this league has ever seen. LeBron James is 40 years old and still one of the best players in the league. Now that he is teaming up with his idol, let’s see if that has an affect on Doncic’s physique.
Can they coexist?
These two superstars have admired each other for a long time. Luka grew up watching his now teammate, and LeBron has showered Luka with praise since the Slovenian came into the league as a teenager. Now that they have joined forces, the question is, how will the chemistry be between these two players? LeBron is the greatest scorer on the planet. He’s the league’s points leader, and you don’t get to that point without having the ball in your hand quite a bit. Luka is also one of the top scorers on the planet and everything ran through Doncic in Dallas. It took a little while for Kyrie Irving and Doncic to find their rhythm but once they did, they went all the way to the Western Conference Finals. How long will it take for these two to find their groove? Will they ever? Tonight we get our first taste at the NBA’s new super duo.
Standings in the West
Taking a look at the standings in the Western Conference we see we see the Los Angeles Lakers in fifth place just three games back of the second placed Grizzlies. They have been one of the hottest teams in the league since January and are rapidly rising up the standings, but that was with their old roster. Now it’s time to find out if the Lakers will rise or fall up the West in the next two months heading into the playoffs. The Jazz aren’t doing so hot. They are second to last in the West having won just 12 games all season, and are incorporating a could of new faces in the team following their less talked about mid season trade.
Last game: Jazz
Things haven’t been going as smoothly for the Jazz who come into tonight on a three game slide. They kept up with the Clippers for the first three quarters as Jordan Clarkson went for 24 and Keyonte George poured in another 21 off the bench. The Jazz would fizzle as LA got hot in the fourth quarter and ended up winning the game by 20. James Harden had a season high 17 assists and Ivica Zubac and Jordan Powell led the way for the Clippers scoring 26 a piece and handed the Jazz their 11th loss in the last 13 games.
Last game: Lakers
The Lakers are coming off of their fifth straight win but it wasn’t Luka or LeBron who made headlines in their game in Indiana. It was Austin Reeves that dropped a career high 45 points. Neither Luka nor LeBron was available for the game against the Pacers and Reeves made the most of his opportunity to be the top scoring option for the Lakers. Indy lead 5-5 early in the first quarter, but that would be the last time they led. Austin Reeves got hot early and ended the night with a career high 45 points, going 14/26 from the field while dishing out another seven assists. The lead would stretch out to 25 in the second quarter and despite the Pacers cutting that lead to 6 at on point Reeves would carry his team to a comfortable 124-116 win for their 9th win in the last 10 games.
LeBron grabbed his own Luka shirt
With Luka shirts draped all over the Crypto.com Arena, there was certainly a shir left over for the NBA's all time leading scorer. LeBron James put on the shirt for his pregame warm up and sunk this long range three ball. Imagine the kid from Slovenia growing up and seeing his favorite player wearing his shirt right before he gets to play suit up on the same team as his childhood idol.
The trade of all trades
The news of Luka’s trade sent shockwaves around the NBA the Dallas Mavericks sent their franchise player to LA in a three team trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. The trade showed that no super star is above a trade during the deadline, and while the Lakers embraced the Slovenian with open arms, the Mavericks fans didn’t extend the warm welcome to AD and the rest of the players involved in the trade. Those in Dallas are pissed that Luka was traded. Luka seemed to be hurt that he was dealt away from the team that he was drafted by and the city he called home. Luka has moved on and is now focused on become a Laker great while the wound in still open and stinging Mavs fans in Big D.
We are live from Crypto.com
Hello everyone and welcome to Crypto.com Arena, where the Lakers fans have been salivating over the moment since the shocking midseason move made by LA that unites the greatest player of this generation to potentially the greatest player of the generation to come. It didn’t take long for the NBA to step to center stage after the end of football season. Just a day after Super Bowl Sunday, we have one of the biggest regular season games the NBA as seen in a long, long time. The Lakers have had a surprisingly good season, and now we get our first look at the made over roster that Laker fans are hoping will bring them title number 18.
Luka’s debut Jazz vs. Lakers live
Luka’s debut Jazz vs. Lakers live
A new era starts in Los Angeles tonight from Crypto.com Arena. LA has it’s next super star. His name is Luka Doncic and he debuts tonight. The Lakers were involved in one of the most shocking trades we have seen in NBA history and that has landed one of the faces of the NBA at one of the most historic franchises in the league. Not to mention, he will join his idol, and the league’s All-Time Leading scorer LeBron James. Tonight the Utah Jazz visit town, but it’s all about Luka and LeBron, and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of Doncic’s debut with the LA Lakers.