The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Toronto Raptors 110-93 on Sunday, snapping a two-game losing streak and improving their record to 25-16.
Still in contention for the playoffs in the Western Conference, sitting in sixth place, the Purple and Gold could suffer an unwanted setback if they don’t correct obvious problems.
Doncic issues a strong warning to his teammates
The Lakers had fallen to just one win in six games before facing the Raptors. During the victory, Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton each added 25 points, leading the game in scoring. LeBron James, who was not going to be part of the roster, ultimately played and contributed another 24 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds.
After the game, the Slovenian, who also had 7 assists and received his twelfth technical foul for arguing a referee’s decision, analyzed the team’s current situation. He said the result could have been better, but that they need to focus on getting out on the court and putting in performances like Sunday’s to improve for the second half of the season:
“It’s not a bad record. Obviously, it could be better, but sometimes when you play like this, we play like we did against Atlanta, it gives us a better chance to win. So just got to look at those two games and play like that,” Doncic told reporters.
Against the Atlanta Hawks (141-116) and in the recent game against the Toronto Raptors, defense was the star, preventing their opponents from getting open shots, especially three-pointers, where the Purple and Gold held them to under 25% and limited the Raptors to just 93 points.
However, the Lakers are not exactly known for their defense, and the crushing defeats against the Hornets and Trail Blazers are proof of that. During this season, their opponents have made 37% of their three-point shots, something they will have to improve before embarking on a tough eight-game road trip outside Los Angeles that will undoubtedly test the team’s strength. The Clippers, Warriors, Thunder, and Spurs are among their upcoming opponents, so any carelessness or mistakes could prove costly.
The Lakers will open their road trip against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, January 20, at Ball Arena.
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