Luka Dončić shines on LA Lakers debut in blowout win over Utah Jazz

Luka Dončić scored 14 factors in restricted enjoying time throughout his debut with the Lakers on Monday night time, becoming a member of their beginning lineup alongside LeBron James and instantly entering into the circulation throughout Los Angeles’ 132-113 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Dončić acquired a number of standing ovations from a Los Angeles crowd sporting hundreds of gold T-shirts along with his identify and No 77. He scored 11 factors whereas the Lakers streaked out to a 25-point halftime lead, and he sat down for good with 3:07 left within the third quarter with the Lakers far forward of their sixth consecutive victory.

The Slovenian famous person’s first bucket was a three-pointer within the opening minutes on his second shot for the Lakers. Dončić completed with 5 rebounds and 4 assists – none prettier than a three-quarter-court strike to James for a layup late within the first half.

The sport was Dončić’s first in practically seven weeks since he strained his left calf on Christmas with the Mavericks, who shocked the sports activities world by buying and selling their 25-year-old centerpiece and NBA scoring champion. The grateful Lakers gave up Anthony Davis and Max Christie.

After a full week to settle in and to return to full energy, Dončić joined James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes as starters for the streaking Lakers, who had gained 11 of 13 even earlier than including a five-time All-NBA choice to their lineup.

Dončić performed solely 23 minutes because the Lakers convey him again intentionally from his harm. His legs aren’t fairly there but – he went 1 for 7 on three-point makes an attempt in his debut – however his playmaking instantly meshed along with his new teammates.

Coach JJ Redick, who performed alongside Dončić for 13 video games in 2021 with the Dallas Mavericks, was desperate to see what Dončić would do in his much-hyped debut along with his new crew.

“Pleasure stage is excessive,” Redick mentioned. “I don’t suppose something in our method or sport plan for Utah modifications. It’s all the time a problem in-season to combine, and we’ve got to have the ability to give one another persistence for that.”

Dončić didn’t disappoint: His first contact was an alley-oop help to Hayes, and he hit his three-pointer moments later. He was serenaded with “Luka! Luka!” chants on the first useless ball, and a number of other occasions thereafter.

That crowd included Dirk Nowitzki, who overlapped with Dončić for one season in Dallas and served as his mentor. Dončić seemed to be the pure inheritor to the German Corridor of Famer’s unimaginable run in Dallas – till present Mavericks common supervisor Nico Harrison determined in any other case.

Dončić performed the primary 6:56 earlier than testing alongside James – probably a coincidence resulting from Dončić’s minutes restriction whereas he returns to full energy. The Lakers are anticipated to have one in every of their superstars on the ground at practically all occasions when Dončić is on top of things.

“Really feel prefer it’s greatest proper now to ease Luka again in to enjoying NBA motion,” Redick mentioned. “I believe if it was as much as Luka, he would in all probability play 48 minutes, however we’re considering long-term and we wish to be secure.”

Dončić returned with about eight minutes left within the first half, and he helped the Lakers on their option to a giant lead with a number of key performs.

Everyone obtained a Dončić T-shirt to mark the event on the Lakers’ downtown enviornment – together with James, who warmed up earlier than the sport within the gold No 77 shirt.

Dončić was adopted by dozens of cameras as he warmed up for about 10 minutes earlier than the sport, and the Lakers’ enviornment performed the Serbian music he favors for pregame exercises. The Lakers launched him final earlier than the sport, giving him the spot usually reserved for James, which led to a different standing ovation.

James returned from a one-game harm absence Monday when the Lakers started a home-and-home set with the Jazz heading into the All-Star break.

“I don’t suppose any of us know precisely what it’ll appear like,” Utah coach Will Hardy mentioned. “I assume it’ll look good. [Dončić and James] are two of the perfect thinkers, problem-solvers that we’ve ever seen. So yeah, I believe making ready for it’s a little bizarre. … However I don’t see any world the place these two enjoying collectively isn’t factor. Like I mentioned, their processing velocity mentally is unimaginable, and so I’m certain they’ll determine it out.”

Dončić has watched three straight Lakers victories from their bench since arriving in Los Angeles per week in the past. Reaves scored a career-high 45 factors to guide the Lakers previous Indiana 124-117 on Saturday with out Dončić or James, who sat out to relaxation his sore ankle.

Dončić started Monday by donating $500,000 to fireplace restoration efforts in his new group, making an instantaneous impression along with his pledge to assist with the harm brought on by the rampant wildfires that devastated elements of Southern California final month – together with Pacific Palisades, the place Redick’s house was misplaced.

“It’s been so unhappy to see and be taught extra concerning the harm from the wildfires as I landed in LA,” Dončić wrote on his Luka Dončić Basis’s social media channels. “I can’t consider it, and I really feel for all the youngsters who misplaced their houses, colleges and the locations the place they used to play with their buddies. Right this moment, my basis is donating $500,000 to speedy restoration efforts. I’m additionally dedicated to serving to rebuild courts, playgrounds and fields that have been destroyed, as a result of each child wants a secure place to play.

“To everybody affected by these fires: we’re right here to assist, now and for the lengthy haul.”

Dončić signed his word: “Your new neighbor.”

Dončić’s preliminary donation is being made to the Neighborhood Basis Wildfire Restoration Fund. He additionally plans to donate “important extra funding over the following two years” with a give attention to rebuilding youngsters’s play areas, in response to a spokesperson.