Disappointing Loss for the Lakers
In a disappointing turn of events for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, they suffered a narrow defeat against the Orlando Magic, concluding their homestand with a 110-109 loss. The critical moment arrived with Luka Doncic, the league’s leading scorer, having the ball in his possession and the opportunity to secure a win for the Lakers. However, instead of taking a shot, Doncic chose to pass to LeBron James, who was caught off guard by the decision.
Reflections on the Final Play
LeBron James reflected on the last play, expressing his belief that Doncic had a good opportunity to score.
“I thought he had a great look, but that’s my POV,”
James stated following the game. Coach JJ Redick had designed the play, commencing with James inbounding the ball with just 6.7 seconds on the clock. Doncic, finding himself wide open just behind the 3-point line after a screen, seemingly had a clear shot.
Typically a confident shooter from such distances, Doncic’s moment of hesitation was surprising. He later acknowledged,
“I know I was open, but I just thought I was a little bit far,”
attributing his indecision partly to his earlier struggles, where he made only 2 of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc.
“Maybe a little bit,”
he admitted when queried if that contributed to his decision to pass rather than shoot.
Missed Opportunities and Championship Aspirations
James took a desperate step-back three-pointer following Doncic’s pass but failed to convert, resulting in the Lakers’ inability to capitalize on a 12-point lead they had maintained during the second half. This loss marked the end of a homestand in which the Lakers finished with a .500 record (4-4) and showcased issues that could hinder their championship aspirations. It was particularly concerning for the team as they lost a game after leading at the end of three quarters for the first time this season.
Collaboration and Future Challenges
James and Doncic had successfully collaborated moments earlier, with Doncic’s pass facilitating a go-ahead dunk for James. However, after Orlando regained the lead with a layup from Wendell Carter Jr., the Lakers found themselves in a critical position to decide the game. James commented on Doncic’s performance and the final play, noting,
“Obviously you’ll have to ask Luka what he saw on that… it looked like he kind of just lost his balance.”
The defeat stung even more for Doncic, who delivered a disappointing performance with 22 points—his lowest in over three months, without any injury interruptions. He reflected on the situation, saying,
“I didn’t want to lose the ball, and we didn’t have timeouts. But like I said, shouldn’t have picked up the ball. I should attack. That’s on me.”
Coach Redick indicated that he would discuss the crucial moment with Doncic during their flight to Phoenix, where they will face a Suns team contending closely for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.
As the Lakers seek to shake off this rough stretch, the spotlight remains on how Doncic and James can step up in clutch situations going forward.
