Luka Dončić Proves He Is Back After Lakers Dominate Nuggets
After receiving criticism on his first few performances with the Lakers, Dončić shows growing ‘chemistry’ with the team in the match win against the Nuggets.
On February 1, 2025, Luka Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a move that was a surprise to himself—let alone the entire NBA world.
His first three games with the Lakers disappointed their fans as Dončić delivered underwhelming performances with a shooting success rate of only 35.6% from the field and 20.8% from the 3-point line.
Their fourth game on Saturday night against the Nuggets left many feeling uneasy, as the Nuggets had proven to be a great worry for the Lakers as the Los Angeles team.
However, Dončić showcased his abilities in the game as the Lakers secured a 123-100 win against the Nuggets on Saturday.
First few games
Dončić’s move to the Los Angeles Lakers was arguably one of the most shocking transfers in NBA history. Regarded as one of the best players in the league right now, Dončić’s underperformance in his first few Lakers games came as a somewhat surprise.
His first game was on February 10, 2025, against the Utah Jazz, as he returned from a calf injury. His debut resulted in 14 points during 24 minutes of play, shooting 5 of 14 from the field and 1 of 7 from the three-point line.
On February 12, during a second game against the Utah Jazz, he scored 16 points and shot 6 of 13 from the field, showing a slight improvement but a still underwhelming performance for a player like Dončić.
His third game, now against the Charlotte Hornets, finished with him scoring 14 points, shooting 5 of 18 from the field, and 1 of 9 from the three-point line. The Lakers lost 100-97 to the Hornets, an unexpected result as the North Carolina team is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference rankings.
Dončić breaks Denver’s winning streak
The Los Angeles Lakers had only won 1 game in the past 14 games against the Denver Nuggets, leaving Lakers fans expecting what seemed to be a guaranteed loss.
Expectations were overturned as the Lakers secured a clear 123-100 victory over the Denver Nuggets on February 22, 2025.
Defeating the critics for the previous games, Dončić set himself as the lead scorer of the entire match, scoring 32 points, shooting 10 of 22 from the field and 4 of 9 from the three-point line.
His impressive series of plays also led him to record 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals, ending any doubts stipulated about his ability to perform.
Now, as Dončić played a massive role in helping to break their nine-game losing streak in Denver, the NBA world looks forward to seeing his next few games as a Laker.
