Doncic hits five 3-pointers during his 15th 40-point game of the season, but he is whistled for the suspension-triggering technical during the third quarter of a 116-99 win. Austin Reaves scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter as…
Lakers star Luka Doncic handles the ball as the Brooklyn Nets’ Nic Claxton defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic slammed his hand against a small television monitor in frustration after missing a layup, knocking it to the floor for an usher to recover.
He covered his face in shame after missing a floater on what could have been a three-point play after absorbing contact. The Slovenian star shook his head in disdain after whiffing on a 3-point attempt from the top of the key, the ball falling well short of the rim. And this was on a night when Doncic scored 41 points on 15-of-25 shooting as the Lakers staved off the Brooklyn Nets, finally pulling away for a 116-99 win on Friday night, their 11th victory in 12 games. “I feel like that’s just the head of the snake,” center Jaxson Hayes said of Doncic. “When he’s going, we’re all going.” Doncic has scored at least 30 points in 16 consecutive games since March 5, the league-leading 43rd time he’s done so this season, and he’s now scored at least 40 points 15 times, including six times this month. “He’s just in an unbelievable rhythm right now,” said LeBron James, who added 14 points and eight assists, one of which was to his son, Bronny James for a second-quarter 3-pointer. “ shooting the 3-ball exceptionally well, getting to the line as he always does and just being super efficient. So we’re all just playing off of him.” Austin Reaves scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, his surge helping dismiss a pesky Nets squad that, much like the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, gave the Lakers a stiffer challenge than expected. Reaves made back-to-back 3-pointers to buoy a 9-2 run as the Lakers started to nudge the game out of reach. His third 3-pointer of the fourth gave the Lakers a 103-94 lead and they closed it out from there to begin a three-game homestand after they spent more than a week on the road. “Playing hard, playing the right way,” Reaves said of the Lakers’ fourth-quarter performance. “Tough game, but got to work and be successful.” Brooklyn led as late as 9:04 left in the fourth when Nets guard Ben Saraf stole an errant pass from Reaves and deposited a dunk on the other end for a 90-89 lead. But the Lakers have become adept at bend-but-don’t-break basketball. And Friday was more of the same, as they outlasted a Nets team that had 26 more field goals attempts. Brooklyn shot 41.7% from the field, but the Lakers shot 54.2%. “You’re tired and cranky, and you got to play through stuff,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “And I thought our guys; they managed it.” Lakers centers Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes combined for eight of the Lakers’ nine blocked shots, helping stifle the Nets’ interior offensive effort. “It’s just how we got to close out games and get that playoff mentality going, which is on the defensive end,” said Hayes, who had 10 points and eight rebounds. “Obviously, we have a really skilled team. We can always score points so I feel like, just making sure we get stops and just everyone’s doing their job is the best way for us to move forward.” Friday night wasn’t without Doncic drama, however. The MVP candidate who skirted a one-game suspension last week after a verbal tussle with Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze led to a 16th technical foul that was later rescinded, might not be as lucky this time. After the Nets took a 75-74 lead in the third quarter after Ziaire Williams threw down a dunk, Doncic committed an offensive foul when he pushed through a screen from the Brooklyn forward on the following inbounds play. In the aftermath, Doncic pushed Williams in the lower back, and Williams responded by striking Doncic with a backhanded swing. The officials called a double technical – which would trigger a one-game suspension for Doncic, to be served Monday against the Washington Wizards. If the 16th technical foul stands, it will be the first time in Doncic’s career that he has reached 16 in the regular season. “He was in my face three times,” Doncic said. “I just wanted to get out of there. It’s a double tech, of course. What can I say? I didn’t even talk. I just wanted to get out of there. And they said I pushed, my push was exaggerated, which was obviously not. And I don’t know what else to tell you.” Redick said the Lakers plan on appealing Doncic’s technical foul, although he admitted he did not have a great vantage point on the play. The Nets played the final five minutes with just one of their starting five on the court, leaving Williams and forward Nic Claxton on the bench. Josh Minott led the Nets with 18 points. Brooklyn scored just 15 points in the fourth quarter and nine over the final nine minutes, slipping below Washington for second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference with its 10th straight loss and 20th in the past 22 games.Luka Doncic scores 43 as Lakers start fast, beat Pacers to finish 5-1 tripJudge rules to evict iconic Olvera Street donkey stand, opened in 1968What to know about the planned Saturday, March 28 ‘No Kings’ protests in Southern CaliforniaEx-LAUSD employee, tech vendor charged in alleged $22 million contracting schemeLA Metro board chooses K Line northern extension route, connecting South Bay to HollywoodIn the Palisades, a Gelson’s intent to come back from the ashes is reassuring, but locals want to know more In the Palisades, a Gelson’s intent to come back from the ashes is reassuring, but locals want to know more
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