Luka Dončić drops 14 points in Lakers debut as Dirk Nowitzki watches in support

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A little more than a week after the trade that shocked the sports world, Luka Dončić made his Los Angeles Lakers debut in Monday night’s matchup against the Utah Jazz.

That game went off without any issues. Dončić dropped 14 while helping the Lakers to a dominant 132-113 win over the Jazz in downtown Los Angeles. He shot 5 of 14 from the field and 1 of 7 from behind the arc with five rebounds and four assists in what was his first game back in weeks after a calf injury. Though he only played 24 minutes, Dončić looked back to his old self.

“I was just happy to be on the court again,” Dončić said on ESPN after the game.

Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki also came to Los Angeles to watch Dončić’s debut.

I will always be a Mav for life, but had to come support my guy 77 @luka7doncic in the first game of his new chapter!

— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) February 11, 2025

“Great friend, great mentor,” Dončić said of Nowitzki. “It really means a lot that he was able to show up here.”

Dončić entered the Lakers’ starting lineup alongside LeBron James, and he was announced last to a loud roar from fans at Crypto.com Arena. Fans received a custom Dončić Lakers shirt upon arrival, too.

Dončić didn’t waste much time scoring, either. He drained his first points with the Lakers on a 3-pointer from the top of the key just a few minutes into the contest.

Dončić was traded to the Lakers on Feb. 1 for Anthony Davis, a move that’s still the talk of the NBA thanks to the collective anger of Dallas Mavericks fans and Davis’ inauspicious start with the team.

The Mavericks have reportedly beefed up security after death threats against general manager Nico Harrison — and that was before Sunday’s news that Davis will reportedly be out multiple weeks with an adductor strain he suffered during his debut on Saturday. Davis sustained the non-contact injury in the third quarter of the Mavericks’ game against the Houston Rockets. The game was his first since he suffered an abdominal strain on Jan. 29 while still playing for the Lakers.

Dončić hadn’t played since Christmas, sidelined with a left calf strain. In 22 games this season,…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/luka-doncic-drops-14-points-in-lakers-debut-as-dirk-nowitzki-watches-in-support-192636006.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2025-02-10 19:26:00

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