Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Luka Doncic as 'fantastic' after his clutch, late defensive plays against Dallas on Saturday night.
Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.going on a scoring spree, being back in Dallas for the first time.
Saturday, it was Doncic's defense that helped spark a furiousled by 15 with 7:41 remaining in the fourth quarter, surging all the way back after L.A. led by 13 at halftime. The Lakers closed the game on a 29-8 run, with Doncic thwarting former coach Jason Kidd's scheme to attack him on defense. "We counted after the game, he had six straight stops where they targeted him," Lakers coach JJ Redick said of Doncic."Just a fantastic job from him. Then makes the game-sealing defensive play with the charge on , so take JJ's point."scored seven of his 17 -- scoring seven straight on a four-point play followed by a 3 to give L.A. the lead with 2:15 remaining -- and"My finger popped out," Smart said of his right index finger that he had surgery on in the offseason."So I had to put it back in. ... Popped it right back in." And similarly to last season, a big team effort has the Lakers popping back into the conversation as a threat in the Western Conference. Doncic's first return to Dallas in April seemed to galvanize the group, with Doncic wiping away tears pregame and then wiping the floor with the Mavs en route to 45 points. It was their sixth win in a nine-game stretch, which included a buzzer beater in Indiana by James and a dominant performance in Oklahoma City against the eventual NBA champs. There wasn't the same fanfare this time around -- although there was a warm reception for Doncic when he was introduced before the game and"MVP" chants when he shot free throws in the second quarter -- but the win could have a similar effect for a Lakers team that's won three out of their past four games."That's the unknown, but that's what you hope , obviously," James said when asked if the Lakers are starting to build momentum."That's the unknown but you play the game. We got to now prepare ourselves for Chicago. ... So, we got to keep this road trip going."
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