Luka Doncic helps Lakers hold off Jazz for fourth win in a row
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- Luka Doncic had 33 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Lakers over Utah 108-106 for their fourth consecutive win.
- The Lakers nearly squandered a double-digit lead, but held on after Lauri Markkanen’s potential go-ahead shot rattled out with 11.4 seconds left.
- LeBron James had 17 points in his second game back as the Lakers improved to 12-4.
SALT LAKE CITY — Luka Doncic’s three-pointer barely grazed the net. Austin Reaves’ shot clanked off the rim. Another one didn’t hit anything.
The Lakers’ shooting slump stretched on, but so did their winning streak as the team that averages the fewest three-pointers in the league won its fourth consecutive game while holding off the Utah Jazz 108-106 at the Delta Center on Sunday.
The Lakers (12-4) shot just 26.3% from three-point range and let an 11-point lead with 3:33 to go in the fourth quarter shrink to one when Lauri Markkanen hit a three-pointer with 41.3 seconds remaining.
Doncic had 33 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and hit one of two free throws to set up the Lakers’ final defensive possession that ended with a contested three-point heave from guard Keyonte George. Doncic made just three of 12 three-point attempts while Reaves pieced together a 22-point, 10-rebound night despite shooting just one of eight on threes.
The star’s return was also a chance for free-agent acquisition Jake LaRavia to finally get a chance to play with the NBA’s all-time scoring leader.
“We didn’t play our best game and we still find a way to win. That’s what great teams do,” Doncic said.
The Lakers lead the league in field-goal percentage (50.9%). They shoot 62.2% from two-point range when no other team has cracked 60%. Their effective field-goal percentage ranks fourth (57.2%) despite being the fifth-worst three-point shooting team by percentage (33.3%).
The most important metric? The Lakers have the second-best record in the Western Conference.
“Obviously, I think me and AR haven’t hit a shot this season,” said Doncic sarcastically, “so I’m not worried at all. Once we start making [shots], it’s gonna be really tough to guard.”
Coach JJ Redick praised his team’s togetherness and adaptability while handling the shooting woes. With the exception of blowout losses against Atlanta and Oklahoma City, the Lakers have delivered just enough to put them in a position to compete. On Sunday, playing against a dynamic, fast-paced team, the game needed a defensive spark.
Forward Maxi Kleber delivered in the second half after center Deandre Ayton left with a right knee contusion. The Jazz (5-11) opened the third quarter with a 17-6 run as George put Utah up 72-68 with 6:59 remaining. Kleber, who hadn’t played at all in the first half, entered the game.
He finished with two points, on a dunk with 1:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, and three rebounds, but made a quiet impact on defense with his physicality. The Lakers outscored the Jazz 16-9 with Kleber on the floor in the third quarter.
“He was one the best players on the floor for us tonight,” Reaves said. “Just energy, effort, the way he plays, the plays he made.”
Redick did not have an update on Ayton’s status immediately after the game. The center finished with two points in 13 minutes and 26 seconds. Without him, the Lakers could rely on Jaxson Hayes and Kleber, or bring back Jarred Vanderbilt after the forward fell out of the rotation when LeBron James returned.
James, playing in his second game this season after being sidelined with sciatica, finished with 17 points and eight assists. He said it almost felt like a repeat of his first game after the Lakers had an extended four-day break without a game.
Doncic said the break was beneficial from a rest standpoint, but it also broke the team’s rhythm. The team practiced, but the highlight of the down time was additional team bonding exercises that included a visit from Snoop Dogg and a team-wide pickleball tournament.
Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman, who helped build the Dodgers into World Series champions, will be working with the Lakers’ Rob Pelinka to do the same for his team.
Smiling at the fact that he dominated a semifinal matchup against Redick, Doncic, who was paired with player development coach Ty Abbott for the pickleball tournament, knew the true value of that break. The Lakers’ strong early season chemistry can help ease the sting of the shooting slump.
“It’s obviously pleasant, but I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise,” Doncic said of the team’s strong bond. “I enjoy playing with these guys a lot and that’s what it’s all about.”
