Doncic and James Shine in Lakers’ Victory
LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic and LeBron James truly put on a show together. In fact, it was the first time this season that both of the Los Angeles Lakers’ stars scored over 30 points in a game.
Doncic ended the night with 34 points, making 17 of 20 free throws, along with six rebounds and eight assists. Meanwhile, James contributed 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting, adding nine rebounds and six assists.
The Lakers managed to clinch a 128-121 win against a battered Memphis Grizzlies team on Friday night.
This marked the third instance of Doncic and James each scoring 30 or more points in a game together, which now totals 42 times in their careers. The last two occasions occurred in March, just a month after Doncic was traded to the Lakers from Dallas.
James, who recently turned 41 and is the oldest active player in the NBA, remarked, “I’m just playing to a rhythm, trying to find ways to be more productive. Luka has done a great job getting to the free-throw line. For me, I’m just trying to sprinkle in contributions here and there—that’s the goal.” They seemed to feed off each other’s momentum throughout the game.
Doncic’s 17 made free throws came very close to his career best, while his 20 attempts were a season high. Composite-wise, the Grizzlies shot 15-of-23 from the line.
“I aim to go downhill more than usual,” Doncic said. “But for him, he’s just playing his game, attacking everything, being effective and helping secure wins.” One could sense the genuine camaraderie between the two players.
The Lakers are now 11-0 when it comes to clutch-time victories this season. The fourth quarter saw the game tied twice, with both teams trading the lead—until the Lakers pulled ahead in the final minutes. In that critical quarter, James scored 10 points while Doncic added six, with the duo providing five assists and grabbing three rebounds collectively.
Lakers coach JJ Redick praised James, stating, “He was phenomenal. There were only a few moments where they gained ground, but each time we needed a bucket, he was ready.” It’s clear that James truly stepped up when it counted.
There was one standout moment when Doncic executed a 70-foot outlet pass to James.
James described it, saying, “He’s one of the best quarterbacks around, and I’d say I’m a pretty decent receiver! My role is to make sure I prevent the defense from breaking us down. He delivered the ball right on the target.” That was a nice touch.
Both Doncic and James received solid support from their teammates. Jake LaRabia put up 21 points and nine rebounds, while Marcus Smart contributed 13 points, along with eight rebounds and seven assists. Jackson Hayes added 12 points off the bench.
Redick noted, “When they get that level of support, it helps lift the burden off LeBron and Luka.” It’s definitely a team effort that stands out in such high-pressure scenarios.
