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Doncic was masterful, producing 42 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds. He was 14 for 24 from the field and six for 15 from three-point range. “Feels good. Like I said, obviously when we win, it feels way better,” Doncic said. “And that’s the only important stuff. But obviously it feels good. You know, when you win by [21] against a team like Miami, it’s really awesome, especially on a back-to-back.”
“Incredible. Luka doesn’t get enough credit for his defense,” Kessler said. “He’s a very high IQ individual when it comes to being on the court. His positional defense with being in the right spot at the right time is really good.”
Benjamin Royer: “It’s fun,” Austin Reaves said of the Lakers’ offense clicking vs. Miami for 138 points. “Obviously, Luka is doing incredible things and when he’s doing that it just opens up the floor for everybody else to play free and confident and I felt like that’s what we did tonight.”
Heat Central: Coach Spo on Luka being in 'better shape' this season: "I think there's probably been too much talk about that. He was in very good shape last year. He can make every play in the book you need to make as a point of attack guy.... He makes the right plays over and over. That's what the greats do"
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The defeat highlighted the brilliance of Doncic, whom the former champion with the Milwaukee Bucks placed among the finest offensive talents. “When you have a guy like Luka, obviously, he’s one of the best scorers to ever play this game, if not the best,” he mentioned. “I feel like some people are scared to say that, but he’s got to be up there. He’s also an elite passer.” “I try not to follow the race and stuff like that and try to focus on what I can do and my team, and how can we be better,” Giannis added, answering a question about his fellow his fellow European’s MVP cases over the years. “Is he an MVP-caliber player? I think, no doubt he’s been up there. He’s definitely up there this year.”
Heat Central: Coach Spo on Luka Doncic having the 2nd highest PPG against the Heat behind Michael Jordan: “It has to be a whole lot more effort, focus discipline. Even if you do that you have to have great mental and emotional stability because Doncic can still make shots if you’re there. You can’t let him walk into his comfort zone… Don’t let his shot making collapse your spirit or your effort”
Though it seems that Doncic himself influenced the decision to retain Reaves in the summer due to their close relationship, according to Lakers insider Jovan Buha . "I've heard that behind the scenes, that has been reported publicly. Luka wanted Austin back. So if Luka wants Austin back, Austin's gonna be back. If Luka wants Walker Kessler, the Lakers went out and got Walker Kessler. If Luka wants some of these role players or at least signs off on them, they get him," he said on his show, Buha's Block.
Luka Doncic had five steals. He took three charges. And he collected 15 defensive rebounds. Oh, and he also had 45 points and six assists. He was 12 for 23 from the field, eight for 12 from three-point range and made all 13 of his free-throws. But it was his defensive performance that drew the most attention on Doncic bobblehead giveaway night. As he sat in front of the media wearing a black baseball cap, Doncic was asked why he has this reputation of not being a very good defender. “Why? I don’t know,” he responded. “Obviously, I’m not the best defender in the NBA, but I think this year I really took a step forward. Obviously, people are going to talk what they want to talk [about] me. ... But I know, and my team knows, that I think I’m better this year. And that helps the whole team, I think.”
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Luka Doncic taking the charges impressed his coaches and teammates the most because it showed he was willing to give up his body to make a stop. “Even last season, before last season, I don’t think I had maybe five charges in seven years, or six years,” Doncic said. “So, that gets everybody fired up. ... I mean, it’s going to show in statistics, but not much. ... I just wanted to get better at that, and three charges is not bad for one game.”
Luka Doncic tormented Toronto to the tune of eight turnovers -- swiping five steals and drawing three charges -- becoming the first player to record those defensive marks in the same game since player tracking began in 2013-14, according to ESPN Research. "Obviously, I'm not the best defender in the NBA, but I think this year, I really took a step forward," said Doncic, whose season-high 15 rebounds also came on the defensive end. "Obviously, people are going to talk what they want to talk [about] me. ... But I know, and my team knows, that I'm better this year."
Luka Doncic might never live down what Steph Curry did to him last night. Curry broke Doncic’s ankles and sent him sprawling to the ground before draining a three-pointer during the Golden State Warriors’ 112-95 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Plenty of people have trolled Dončić about this. But an Instagram post Jimmy Butler made on Saturday takes the cake. Butler posted an AI video where Curry’s likeness is Bruce Leroy (played by Taimak) in the 1985 martial arts film The Last Dragon. Curry is then asked, “Alright Leroy, who’s the one-and-only Master?” and responds, “I am!”
