Jamaine Punzalan

LeBron James #23 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the third quarter of a game against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Ronald Martinez,  Getty Images/AFP

Article (news)

Utah Jazz v Los Angeles Lakers

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739261212158DONCIC.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">LeBron James #23 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the third quarter of a game against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Ronald Martinez,  Getty Images/AFP </span></span></span></div><p>Luka Doncic made a winning start to his Los Angeles Lakers career on Monday, returning from injury with 14 points for his new team in a 132-113 drubbing of the Utah Jazz.</p><p>Slovenian superstar Doncic -- who was traded to the Lakers by the Dallas Mavericks earlier this month in one of the most jaw-dropping deals in NBA history -- was playing his first game since suffering a calf injury in December.</p><p>The 25-year-old saw his time on court limited to 24 minutes, with Lakers head coach J.J. Redick saying beforehand the club would be cautious as they managed Doncic&#x27;s fitness.</p><p>&quot;I heard a lot of noise when I was introduced -- it was a special moment,&quot; Doncic said afterwards of the reception by the Lakers home crowd. &quot;The way they received me, it was amazing to see.</p><p>&quot;I was a little bit nervous before the game but once I stepped onto the court it was fun. Just being out there again felt amazing.&quot;</p><p>There was a fleeting scare in the first quarter when Doncic required treatment to his left calf before heading to the locker room early in the quarter.</p><p>But the five-time All-Star returned to the court before eventually leaving the game late in the third quarter with the Lakers in control leading 93-69.</p><p>In his time on court Doncic showed plenty of glimpses of the class that the Lakers hope will lead the team into a new era.</p><p>He scored his first points as a Laker with a superb 26-foot three-pointer in the first quarter, and combined well throughout with LeBron James, who finished with 24 points.</p><p>Doncic drew one of the loudest roars of the night after unleashing a length-of-the-court pass to James for a score in the first half.</p><p>He later said he believes his understanding with the 40-year-old icon could cause problems for the rest of the league.</p><p>&quot;He sees the way game in a different way to a lot of people and his IQ is insane,&quot; Doncic said. &quot;To have two guys like that on the court is going to help the team.&quot;</p><p>The Lakers improved to 32-19 with the victory and sit in fifth place in the Western Conference. Utah fell to 12-40 and are one place off the bottom of the table.</p><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YxCijrM7D1E" title="&#x27;History in the making&#x27;: Laker fans excited for Doncic Era | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CAVS, THUNDER MARCH ON</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 44-point display from Anthony Edwards to maintain their grip on the Eastern Conference with a 128-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.</p><p>Wolves ace Edwards put on a scintillating individual performance with eight three-pointers from 13-of-28 shooting, but his effort was in vain as Cleveland romped to a wire-to-wire win.</p><p>The Cavaliers improved to 43-10 to remain 5.5 games clear of the second-placed Boston Celtics, who were comfortable 103-85 winners over the Miami Heat.</p><p>Evan Mobley led the Cavs&#x27; scoring with 28 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four blocks on a night when six Cleveland scorers cracked double figures. Donovan Mitchell had 23 points, with Darius Garland scoring 17.</p><p>In Miami, the reigning NBA champion Celtics fought back from an early 11-point deficit to outgun the Heat.</p><p>Jayson Tatum finished with 33 points to lead the Boston scoring. Boston improved to 38-16 with the victory.</p><p>In Milwaukee, Stephen Curry scored a season-high 38 points as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Bucks 125-111.</p><p>Golden State star Curry made six three-pointers in his 38-point haul, with new recruit Jimmy Butler adding 20 points.</p><p>The Bucks&#x27; Damian Lillard shot 12-of-20 and also finished with 38 points, following on from his 43 points in Sunday&#x27;s win over Philadelphia.</p><p>In Washington, Victor Wembanyama warmed up for the coming All-Star weekend with a dazzling performance in the San Antonio Spurs&#x27; 131-121 win over the Wizards.</p><p>French star Wembanyama finished with 31 points, 15 rebounds, two steals and three blocks, while new San Antonio signing De&#x27;Aaron Fox finished with 30 points.</p><p>The Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder meanwhile rolled to their sixth straight win with a 137-101 rout of the New Orleans Pelicans.</p><p>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City&#x27;s scoring with 31 points, while Aaron Wiggins added 24 from the bench.</p><p>Oklahoma City now lead the West with a 43-9 record, eight games clear of second-placed Memphis (35-17).</p><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wIWsHxMGCw4" title="Luka Doncic pays tribute to late NBA legend Kobe Bryant | ABS CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Luka Doncic made a winning start to his Los Angeles Lakers career on Monday, returning from injury with 14 points for his new team in a 132-113 drubbing of the Utah Jazz.</p>

Luka Doncic made a winning start to his Los Angeles Lakers career on Monday, returning from injury with 14 points for his new team in a 132-113 drubbing of the Utah Jazz.

Doncic off the mark as Lakers rout Jazz

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Doncic off the mark as Lakers rout Jazz

Agence France-Presse

Published February 11, 2025 04:09 PM PHT

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