Luka Doncic wasted no time making his presence felt as the Los Angeles Lakers tipped off their NBA season, but despite his heroic performance, the team couldn’t overcome the reigning champions.
The Golden State Warriors handed the Lakers a 119-109 loss in a game that once again exposed familiar problems-and sparked a brief injury scare involving their new franchise centerpiece.
In what was arguably the best individual performance of opening night, Doncic poured in 43 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out nine assists.
He was everywhere for the Lakers, even contributing with several solid defensive plays. However, as fans celebrated his dominance, concern quickly surfaced when cameras caught him receiving extended treatment postgame.
Staff focused their attention on the inside of Doncic‘s right leg, prompting speculation about a potential groin injury.
Given the Lakers‘ recent injury luck-particularly with LeBron James already sidelined-many feared the worst. But Doncic was quick to calm the panic, telling ESPN’s Dave McMenamin:
“It’s probably nothing. Just felt it a little bit because my hip went [the opposite] way. Felt it a little bit, but it’s probably nothing.”
Doncic confident in health, defense, and conditioning
While the postgame treatment raised eyebrows, there is optimism within the organization. Doncic has a reputation for playing through minor injuries and, after dedicating the offseason to improving his fitness, he appears in noticeably better condition. That physical transformation is paying off, particularly on defense-a part of his game he’s often criticized for.
“I think I’m getting better on the defensive end, I’m just trying to get more involved, more communication [with his teammates],” Doncic said. “But overall, 41 minutes, so I like that.”
His stamina and effort on both ends of the floor were undeniable, especially given that LeBron was unavailable. Without their veteran leader, the Lakers leaned heavily on Doncic, and he delivered.
Still, basketball is a team game-and the Lakers couldn’t overcome a disastrous third quarter. After trailing by just a few points at halftime, they were outscored 35-25 in the third, a familiar breakdown that haunted the team throughout last season.
“The trend I see is that we continue to be a terrible third-quarter team,” head coach JJ Redick said after the loss. “That was last year. That was the preseason. Gotta rethink some things and it’s, you know, a two-way thing with the guys. What do they need at halftime to make sure they’re ready to play? They’re not ready to play to start the third quarter.”
The Lakers will aim to bounce back in their next outing against the Minnesota Timberwolves. For now, though, they’ll be relieved that their new star appears healthy-and hopeful that his elite play can start translating into wins.
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