A botched play in the final possession of Tuesday night’s game against the Orlando Magic resulted in a disappointing 110-109 loss for the Los Angeles Lakers. Although LeBron James was responsible for taking the game-winning shot, Luka Doncic was to blame for the play falling apart.
With 6.7 seconds left on the clock, the Lakers came out of the timeout with an idea to win the game. However, Luka Doncic’s hesitation to shoot the ball proved to be a catastrophic error. While speaking with the media about his decision-making in the moment, Doncic explained:
“I know I was open, but I just thought I was a little bit far. Tried to take one dribble closer. Probably should have just picked up the ball and tried to attack.”
Luka Doncic’s concern about the distance may have been a product of his reduced confidence in his three-point shooting ability. Having shot 2-10 from beyond the arc, the superstar’s struggles with the long ball were evident. When asked whether it had an impact, he stated:
“Maybe a little bit. I thought it was enough time, about 6-7 seconds. I thought it was enough time to get a better look, try to drive the ball, so that’s why I picked up [my dribble].”
While Luka Doncic’s rationale is apt, the Magic responded quickly, shutting down any lanes to attack the rim. Instead, Doncic was forced to pass the ball to LeBron James on the wing, who had a marginally better look than he did.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin asked Doncic about his train of thought before passing the ball to James. Doncic responded:
“I mean, I just saw him open, and I didn’t want to lose the ball. We didn’t have timeouts… I shouldn’t have picked up the ball. I should have attacked. I thought I was going to get open, but that’s on me.”
Doncic’s ability to take accountability for his mistake is commendable, but with reports suggesting that James and Doncic haven’t spoken about the play since the game ended, there may be some tension in the air.
For the most part, the Purple and Gold appeared to be in control of the game. Luka Doncic led the charge with 22 points, nine rebounds, and 15 assists on a relatively poor shooting night, while LeBron James added 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists of his own.
Despite a slow start, Austin Reaves came alive in the second half, ending the game with 18 points. Meanwhile, Deandre Ayton also held his own against the Magic frontcourt, contributing 21 points and 13 rebounds on 8-11 FG.
After a strong first half, Los Angeles managed to maintain their momentum heading into the third quarter, a genuinely rare sight for this Lakers’ team. Unfortunately, the tide completely shifted in the fourth, as Orlando took control late in the game.
Luka Doncic’s tentativeness in the closing seconds spelled disaster for the Lakers. Despite having a clean look at the rim, the guard looked uncertain. Needless to say, this is a concerning sign for someone of his stature.
Having lost two games in a row, the Lakers have fallen to 34-23 on the season. With losing habits creeping in, the Lakers will need to find a way to break out of this slump to maintain their position among the top six teams in the West.
