“Nico Harrison knew something” - Lakers fans gravely concerned about Luka Doncic after underwhelming effort vs Warriors

Modified Apr 04, 2025 06:02 GMT

NBA: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers - Source: Imagn — Fans react to Luka Doncic's rough night against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. [photo: Imagn]

Fans reacted as Luka Doncic picked the wrong time to struggle for the LA Lakers. The former Dallas Mavericks superstar tallied 19 points on 6-for-17 shooting in LA’s 123-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. While LeBron James and Steph Curry dazzled, Brandin Podziemski and Austin Reaves stole the limelight from Doncic.

Doncic missed all six attempts from behind the arc, ending his streak of 114 games with at least a 3-pointer.

Dallas Mavericks GM reportedly moved Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers because Anthony Davis improved the Mavs’ chance of winning a championship. Harrison thought AD was the “better cultural fit” than the perennial All-NBA star. Poor production on offense was likely not the reason the Mavericks shipped the point guard to Hollywood, though.

Doncic had back-to-back rough shooting nights. He scored 20 points against the Houston Rockets on Monday, but it took him 16 shots to get his tally. He went 1-for-7 from deep in that game, but the Lakers bucked his struggles to win 104-98.

Against the Dubs, the Lakers were not as fortunate, though. Luka Doncic’s lethargic shooting was too much to overcome despite LeBron James and Austin Reaves combining for 64 points.

JJ Redick isn't worried about Luka Doncic’s shooting struggles

Luka Doncic went 2-for-6 in the first quarter, including 0-for-3 from 3-point distance. The Slovenian couldn't shake out of the slump that hounded him two nights before against the Houston Rockets.

In a sideline interview after the first quarter, coach JJ Redick said that he wasn't worried about his prized point guard’s shooting. After the game, the coach hammered on the same point:

Redick better be hoping that Doncic regains his shooting touch as the Lakers close the season. The loss dropped LA’s record to 46-30 for the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference.

They are only 1.5 games ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves (45-32) and two ahead of the LA Clippers (44-32). If they don’t have a strong finishing kick, the Lakers could fall to the play-in tournament.

The Lakers could sprint to the finish line and earn a top 4 spot if Doncic gets his magic back.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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