"Should've rested him"- Lakers fans react after JJ Redick reveals Luka Doncic's sickening situation leading up to Game 3

The LA Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their first-round series to go down 2-1. In the loss, the Lakers did not get significant contributions from their star Luka Doncic, who only put up 17 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, while reportedly playing with a stomach bug.

According to Lakers head coach JJ Redick, Doncic threw up multiple times hours before the game and did not sleep well the day prior. He also missed the start of the third quarter, which could have been due to his stomach ailment.

Knowing Doncic’s stomach issues, NBA fans were quick to hop on social media to express their dissatisfaction, saying Redick should not have played Luka in the game as he failed to deliver on the defensive end.

“Should have rested him. He's a cone in defense because clearly he's not 100% in that game so they attack him,” one fan said.

“This is coaching malpractice. He knew that and he still tried to run the offense through luka down the stretch when it clearly should have ran through bron,” another fan wrote.

“Okay sure. He should’ve sat if this was the case. But if Luka insisted to play then I get not refusing him, but why did he have the ball in his hands so much throughout this game? It makes no sense,” one fan said.

Other fans lamented Doncic’s usage throughout the game, especially as he logged 40 minutes in Game 3 while committing five turnovers.

“HASN’T BEEN FEELING WELL” so maybe you stop forcing the f**king offense through him,” one fan said.

“Oh great. Leta play him whole game then. Idiot,” another fan wrote.

“SO WHY DID HE HAVE THE BALL IN HIS HANDS THE WHOLE F**KING GAME JJ????????!!,” one fan wrote.

Doncic looked gassed throughout the game, putting in less effort on defense as the Timberwolves attacked him for most of the way.

Doncic was stellar in the first two games, scoring 37 and 31 points respectively for the opening games in LA. Now, the Lakers find themselves in a 2-1 hole as the series stays in Minnesota for Game 4.

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JJ Redick determined to disappoint Minnesota fans through a Lakers win

JJ Redick is still looking forward to a win in Minnesota to disappoint the home fans, saying that it is unlike any feeling.

"There's just something awesome about winning on the road in the playoffs. ... You got to really embrace it. And if you embrace it, whatever dopamine hit you could ever want in your life, you get it,” Redick said before Game 3.

Redick and the Lakers have another opportunity in Game 4 in Minnesota. The series will return to LA for Game 5 before returning to Minnesota in Game 6.

The Lakers came into the series as the favorites, being the third-seeded team against the sixth-seeded Minnesota.