Luka Doncic blamed “rustiness” for a below-par performance as the Los Angeles Lakers lost 100-97 to the Charlotte Hornets.
The Slovenian has played just three games since Christmas due to injury and it showed as he shot five-for-18 with six turnovers as the Lakers slumped to their second loss in three games since acquiring Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks.
Final pic.twitter.com/EJ0C1ysDOl
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 20, 2025
LeBron James missed two potential game-tying three-pointers in the final seconds as the Hornets held on thanks to 29 points from Miles Bridges and 27 from LaMelo Ball.
“Obviously, it’s going to take a little time,” Doncic said. “Today, a lot of rustiness for my part. Started the game with like four or five turnovers. That can’t happen. So, just got to play basketball the right way.”
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James backs struggling team-mate
James backed his new team-mate and insisted it would take time for him to settle having moved mid-season.
“He still doesn’t know all the plays, he doesn’t know all the defensive coverages, all the signals, and things that we’ve built since September,” James said. “So obviously, we’re trying to fast-track it on the fly. He’s coming back from his injury. He’s getting back into form. So, we’re all working through it together.”
“An absolute thunder dunk by LeBron!” 🌩️ pic.twitter.com/HWzZzqfdKE
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 20, 2025
James gets chance to tie the match – but misses
Doncic’s struggles partially explained why coach JJ Redick turned to James in the final seconds rather than Doncic.
“He had it going, so obviously we’re going to go to him,” Doncic said of James, who had scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter. “I think it will go both ways. One time it’s going to be him, one time me. So, I think it depends how the game is going.”
Redick added: “I thought, our effort and competitive spirit was good enough to win. Just, we were really poor offensively for 90% of the game.”
