On Thursday night, the Golden State Warriors faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in a game that many considered a potential playoff preview. The Warriors secured a crucial 123-116 victory behind a stellar performance from Stephen Curry, while Lakers star Luka Doncic struggled to make an impact.
Following the game, Doncic expressed his disappointment in his own play. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Doncic was blunt in his self-assessment, stating, “That performance from me is unacceptable.”
Doncic endured a rough shooting night, particularly from beyond the arc, where he went 0-for-3 from three-point range—an area of the game that is typically his bread and butter.
Despite his struggles, he still finished with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, nearly recording a double-double. However, his off night was evident, as the Lakers seemed to lack a crucial offensive spark despite strong efforts from LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
Lakers’ standouts: LeBron and Reaves step up
With Doncic struggling, LeBron James and Austin Reaves shouldered the offensive load for Los Angeles. James delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with 33 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, a steal, and a block. Meanwhile, Reaves contributed 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. However, their efforts weren’t enough to overcome Curry’s dominant 37-point outing, which ultimately sealed the victory for Golden State.
JJ Redick on Doncic and the Lakers’ playoff readiness
In the aftermath of the loss, Lakers head coach JJ Redick acknowledged that the team is still working toward developing a playoff mindset. “We’re still building it. We’re not there,” Redick said, emphasizing that the Lakers have work to do before they’re truly postseason-ready.
When asked about Doncic’s performance, Redick kept it simple: “Wasn’t his night.” As the playoffs approach, the Lakers will need Doncic at his best if they hope to make a deep NBA postseason run.