Luka Doncic scores 14 points in winning debut for Lakers

Los Angeles-Luka Doncic scored 14 points in limited playing time during his debut with Lakers Monday night and joined their starting lineup with LeBron James and immediately entered the stream under Los Angeles’ 132-113 win over Utah Jazz.

Doncic got several standing ovations from a Los Angeles audience wearing thousands of gold t-shirts with his name and No. 77-Inclusive James warmed up before the game in the same shirt distributed to fans.

“I didn’t play for a long time … all Luka jerseys, it was just a surreal feeling,” Doncic said.

He scored 11 points, while Lakers striped out to a 25-point half-time line, and he sat down too well with 3:07 back in the third quarter of Lakers far ahead in their sixth win in a row.

The Slovenian superstar’s first bucket was a 3-pointer in the opening minutes on his second shot for Lakers. Doncic ended with five rebounds and four assists more beautiful than a three-quarter court strike to James for a set-up late in the first half.

The game was Doncic’s first in almost seven weeks since he strained his left calf at Christmas with Dallas Mavericks, who shocked the sports world by shopping their 25-year-old centerpiece and NBA scoring champion.

After a whole week to settle down and return to full strength, Doncic joined James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes as starters for the streaking lakers who had won 11 of 13 even before adding a five-time All-NBA choices for their lineup.

Doncic played only 24 minutes when Lakers consciously brings him back from his injury. His legs are not quite there yet-he went 1 for 7 on 3-point attempt in his debut-but his playmaking immediately joined his new teammates.

“I think he handled it well,” said Laker’s coach JJ Redick, who played with Doncic in 13 games in 2021 with Mavericks. “Know Luka, there was probably a little bit of nerves playing for Lakers for the first time … I thought he had been handling it really well and he played really well tonight.”

Redick was among many in Los Angeles eager to see what Doncic would do in his very hyped debut with his new team. Doncic did not disappoint: His first touch was a Gyde-Oop Assist to Hayes and he hit his 3-Pointer moments later. He was serenaded with “Luka! Luka!” sang at the first dead ball and then several times.

This audience included Dirk Nowitzki, who overlapped with Doncic for a season in Dallas and served as his mentor. Doncic seemed to be the natural heir to the German Hall of Famer’s incredible race in Dallas – until the current Maverick’s general manager Nico Harrison decided otherwise.

“For him to show up, big friend, big mentor … I really appreciate it,” Doncic said of Nowitzki.

Doncic played the first 6:56 before checking with James – probably a coincidence due to Doncic’s minute limitation while returning to full strength. Lakers are expected to have one of their superstars on the floor almost all times when Doncic is at speed.

“Feeling it’s best right now to ease Luke back to playing NBA action,” Redick said before the game. “I think if it was up to Luka, he would probably play 48 minutes, but we are thinking in the long term and we will be safe.”

Doncic returned with about eight minutes back in the first half, and he helped Lakers on his way to a big lead with multiple key playbacks.

Doncic was followed by dozens of cameras as he warmed up about 10 minutes before the game, and Lakers’ Arena played the Serbian music he favors for pregame training. Lakers introduced him last before the game, giving him the place usually reserved for James, which led to another standing ovation.

Doncic said James texted him on the player’s introductions on Monday morning and offered to make the order Doncic wanted. Doncic said he appreciated gesture to let him go last and that it will return to James, moving on.

“He let me get my moment,” Doncic said of James, who returned from a game on a game, Monday when Lakers started a home-and-home set with jazz on his way into the All-Star break.

Doncic has seen three straight Lakers victories from their bench since arriving in Los Angeles a week ago. He began Monday with lost.

“It’s been so sad to see and learn more about the damage from the fire when I landed in LA,” Doncic wrote at his Luka Doncic Foundation’s social media channels. “I can’t believe it and I feel for all the kids who lost their homes, schools and the places where they used to play with their friends. Today my foundation donates $ 500,000 to immediate recovery efforts. I am also committed to To help rebuild courts, playgrounds and fields that were destroyed because each child needs a safe place to play.

“To everyone affected by these fires: We are here to help, now and for a long time.”

Doncic signed his note: “Your new neighbor.”

Doncic’s original donation is made to the Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund. He also plans to donate “significant further financing over the next two years” focusing on the reconstruction of children’s playgrounds, according to a spokesman.

Associated Press contributed to this report.