CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For as soon as, Luka Doncic needed to serve the punishment. For not hitting any half-court pictures throughout his pregame warmup, Doncic needed to drop to the court docket and provides his teaching workers push-ups.
The train seemingly powered him up for the two-handed dunk to come back.
Doncic dazzled within the Lakers’ 121-111 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday at Spectrum Heart, scoring 38 factors with seven assists, six rebounds and one emphatic third-quarter dunk to assist the Lakers flush the reminiscences of a blowout loss in Atlanta.
“It was enjoyable, not solely as a result of he obtained the dunk,” coach JJ Redick stated, “however simply him letting out some emotion.”
Doncic exorcised the demons of a 20-point loss to Atlanta on Saturday by which the Lakers (8-3) led for less than 19 seconds and pulled the starters earlier than the third quarter. He spent the vast majority of that recreation bickering with officers. He missed six three-pointers and had 5 turnovers.
On Monday, Doncic was again to joking with Austin Reaves about who had the higher deadball three-quarters-court heave after Reaves returned from a three-game absence with 24 factors and 7 assists.
“I used to be pushing him to get again,” stated Doncic, who made a 70-foot shot after the whistle and wished to verify Reaves knew it was longer than his 50-footer. “I wanted him again. … He’s an incredible participant.”
Reaves, who was out due to a proper groin pressure, stated he wished to play towards Atlanta however was held out for precautionary causes. He performed one minute and 25 seconds over his supposed 28-minute restriction Monday. The whole lot felt nice, he stated, besides his bounce shot.
When Doncic assisted him on a three-pointer with 8:01 remaining within the fourth, Reaves put his arms up and threw his head again in reduction. He had missed his first seven three-point makes an attempt and completed two for 10 from three-point vary.
With Reaves’ return, the Lakers are one participant nearer to a wholesome roster. LeBron James is scheduled to follow with the South Bay Lakers this week as he progresses via proper sciatica.
Rookie Adou Thiero (left knee surgical procedure restoration) is also near returning. Redick estimated the ahead may make his NBA debut in the course of the journey, which has three video games remaining, beginning Wednesday at Oklahoma Metropolis. The defending NBA champions are 10-1.
“They’re the No. 1 workforce proper now,” ahead Rui Hachimura stated. “So we obtained to be prepared for the battle on Wednesday.”
Hachimura scored 21 factors Monday with excellent three-for-three taking pictures from three-point vary. Along with seven steals from Marcus Good, Hachimura quietly starred on protection, serving to the Lakers maintain the Hornets to 38 mixed factors within the second and third quarters.
Reaves introduced his presence by throwing a lob to Deandre Ayton for the Lakers’ first basket. After Charlotte (3-7) blitzed the Lakers with eight three-pointers within the first quarter to take a 40-36 lead, Reaves answered by scoring seven of the Lakers’ first 10 factors within the second. He gave the workforce a jolt of power by racing for a transition layup to beat the halftime buzzer, giving the Lakers a two-point lead.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots over Charlotte Hornets ahead Miles Bridges in the course of the first half Monday.
(Chris Carlson / Related Press)
“He’s an All-Star-level participant,” Redick stated earlier than the sport. “He’s, together with Luka, an extremely dynamic offensive participant. I believe our depth will increase, the lineup optionality will increase, so not having him within the lineup actually, actually hurts us.”
The Lakers went 2-1 in video games with out Reaves, however the blowout in Atlanta was so hanging that Redick was left questioning the id of his workforce. Redick waved the white flag by the center of the third quarter after the beginning unit let the deficit balloon to 25.
With Doncic and Reaves again, the Lakers wouldn’t repeat their third-quarter woes.
The Lakers began the second half with an 11-4 run that pressured the Hornets to name a timeout. Reaves then assisted on a three-pointer from Hachimura that pushed the lead into double digits. Doncic hit a step-back three to place the Lakers up by 12. Doncic’s help to Hachimura prolonged the result in 17.
A driving, two-handed dunk was the exclamation level, beautiful the Charlotte crowd as Doncic held on the rim and screamed for a three-point play. Doncic can dunk, he insisted after the sport.
“I simply don’t need to on a regular basis,” he added with a slight grin.
With two dunks this season — together with a barely-there slam at house towards Minnesota that his teammates don’t formally depend — he already doubled his complete from final season.
“Lastly,” Good stated. “The best way he be getting by [defenders], he’s all the time performing. Would possibly as nicely go and dunk it one time. I suppose you gotta piss him off for that.”
