The anticipation for Los Angeles Lakers fans ended connected Monday nighttime arsenic Luka Doncic made his debut successful purple and golden astatine the Crypto.com Arena against the Utah Jazz.
Doncic played 24 minutes arsenic each but 1 Lakers prima played nether 30 (Austin Reaves). He made the astir of it, scoring 14 points, grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing retired 4 assists. He was plus-15 portion connected the level and 5-of-14 from the field.
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He had not played since Christmas owed to an wounded and past was the main portion of a blockbuster commercialized from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers. As fans received Doncic T-shirts, and helium stepped onto the level with LeBron James, Doncic admitted helium was a "little nervous."
"I (don’t remember) the past clip I was tense earlier the game. But erstwhile I stepped connected the tribunal again, it was fun. Just being retired there, it felt amazing," helium said aft the game.
The Lakers won the crippled 132-113.
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"Just the magnitude of cheering determination was successful the arena was perfectly unbelievable," Doncic said. "That was my favourite portion — and to play again."
As the play wears on, Doncic’s chemistry with James is going to beryllium a cardinal factor. The Lakers moved to 32-19 connected the twelvemonth with the triumph and are presently successful 4th spot successful the Western Conference. Being retired of the play-in tourney volition beryllium a cardinal for the team.
"Knowing Luka, whether helium volition admit this oregon not, determination was astir apt a small spot of nerves playing for the Lakers for the archetypal time, and the anticipation that this gathering had," Lakers caput manager J.J. Redick said. "I thought helium handled it truly well, and helium played truly good tonight. ... He didn’t marque it astir Luka. He made it astir playing bully hoops and playing Laker basketball."
Los Angeles volition caput to Utah to play the Jazz again earlier the All-Star interruption begins.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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