LOS ANGELES — After a slow start to his Lakers tenure, Luka Doncic is starting to feel and play more like his pre-calf injury self.
This is evident by the “blackout” episodes – as Lakers coach JJ Redick described it when Doncic starts screaming during the course of the game because of excitement – that are happening more frequently.
“The way he started the game got us going on that end,” Redick said of Doncic after Sunday night’s victory over the Clippers. “And then it just seemed like throughout the game, when we needed a bucket, when we needed him to draw a second, third defender at times, he was able to make the right play – minus the six turnovers.
“It was that verve and that spirit of competition. But also just something that is – maybe it’s an inner demon, I don’t know – but it comes out and it’s fantastic for us when it does.”
Those moments occurred in both of the Lakers’ home wins against the Clippers on Friday and Sunday at Crypto.com Arena, with Doncic’s performances against the Lakers’ cross-town rival being a familiar sighting from the first 6½ seasons of his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks.
The 26-year-old Slovenian star averaged 30 points (46.2% shooting, 38.1% from 3-point range), seven assists, four rebounds and 2.5 steals in the victories over the Clippers, providing the Lakers with even more looks at what Doncic will look like when he’s back to fully feeling like himself again.
Doncic averaged 19.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists in his first five games with the Lakers after being sidelined for 6½ weeks because of a strained left calf.
“We feed off of it, for sure,” guard Gabe Vincent said of Doncic’s offensive bursts. “I mean, you’ve got a guy in your corner going [anime warrior] Super Saiyan, for lack of a better word. And making great plays, hitting shots, it’s a lot of fun.
“It can give us a lot of life and we’ve been creating a lot of energy on the defensive side. And when he gets hot offensively, we feel like we can’t be stopped in that regard.”
CELEBRATING L.A.
As part of their “Celebrate Los Angeles” night in the aftermath of the January wildfires, the Lakers will host Southern California first responders and affected community members during Tuesday’s home game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Sixty first responders/guests will take part in a private shootaround with Lakers legend Robert Horry on Tuesday afternoon at Crypto.com Arena before attending the game.
The Lakers are also hosting Altadena’s Aveson Global Leadership Academy high school boys and girls basketball teams, who will watch the game from a pair of suites. Students from Odyssey Charter School South, Palisades Recreation Center and Pasadena Rosebud Academy will also be attending. The Lakers will also honor first responders during halftime of Tuesday’s game.
Fans in attendance will receive a “We love LA” t-shirt and wristbands.
The Lakers were one of 12 Southern California professional sports teams – along with Angel City FC, the Angels, Chargers, Clippers, Dodgers, Ducks, Galaxy, Kings, LAFC, Rams and Sparks – to pledge a combined donation of more than $8 million to support victims in need, as well as those fighting the fires.
The teams also joined forces with Fanatics and the Fanatics Foundation to distribute $3 million worth of Fanatics merchandise to those who evacuated their homes.
The Lakers also hosted multiple donation drives the week after the fires started.