Luka Doncic’s Late Game Decision vs. Magic
Luka Doncic is usually quick to make decisions on the court, analyzing his options as they come. But during the Lakers’ close loss to the Magic on Tuesday, he found himself pausing under pressure.
With the Lakers down 110-109 and an inbound play unfolding, Doncic broke free from a screen set by Deandre Ayton and maneuvered past Orlando’s defenders. He received the ball just behind the three-point line, with a little over six seconds left. As he turned towards the basket, he created some space—only to hit a sudden mental block.
“I know it was open, but I just thought it was a little far,” Doncic explained later. “I tried to dribble a step closer.”
However, when he took that dribble, the space he had created vanished, with defenders closing in fast. Eventually, Doncic passed the ball to LeBron James, who attempted a long turnaround three-pointer. Unfortunately, the shot went awry, leading to the Lakers’ second consecutive defeat.
Doncic reflected on his decision, stating, “I just saw him open and I didn’t want to lose the ball. There were no timeouts. [But] I shouldn’t have picked up the ball. I should have attacked. That’s my responsibility.”
LeBron commented on the play, noting that although they didn’t get ideal shots, the execution was correct. “I thought Luka had a good look,” he remarked. “He looked a little off balance, though. I was off balance too when he passed it to me.”
Many fans in the arena shared surprise that Doncic, known for hitting tough shots, felt hesitant about taking the shot. After all, he typically doesn’t miss those moments. He acknowledged that being out of rhythm might have contributed to his second-guessing.
In this game, Doncic made 8 of his 24 field goal attempts, including just 2 of 10 from beyond the arc, along with 4 of 9 free throws. “Maybe a little bit” of his rhythm impacted his choices, he said. “I thought I had more time. Should I have really taken a closer shot?”
Interestingly, despite the loss, Doncic delivered one of his best games in terms of assists, tallying a season-high 15 with only two turnovers. The Lakers have a strong record of 15-4 when Doncic reaches double-digit assists this season, but this particular night will likely be remembered for that missed opportunity.
