Hornets stun Lakers in first game after All-Star break as Doncic struggles

But the Lakers all say they don’t seem to be nervous after their embarrassing 100-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night time.

Doncic scored 14 factors on 5-of-18 capturing, together with a 1-for-9 efficiency on 3-point makes an attempt. The Slovenian celebrity added 11 rebounds and eight assists, but additionally dedicated six turnovers and 5 private fouls whereas enjoying 33 minutes in his longest efficiency since becoming a member of the Lakers in a blockbuster commerce with Dallas.

“Clearly, it should take a while,” Doncic stated. “At present, a whole lot of rustiness from my half. Began the game with like 4 or 5 turnovers. That may’t occur. Simply received to play basketball the proper approach.”

The night was clearly irritating to Doncic, who was enjoying solely his third NBA game following a 6 1/2-week absence on account of a calf pressure incurred on Christmas. On a few events when this usually electrifying scorer managed to make a shot in opposition to the Hornets, Doncic reacted with a visual mixture of reduction and frustration.

Doncic is 16 for 45 from the sector in his three video games with the Lakers, however simply 5 for twenty-four on 3-point makes an attempt — together with 2 for 16 in his two dwelling video games, the place followers have buzzed with anticipation of every shot after which groaned at every clank.

Again-to-back losses to cellar-dwelling Utah and Charlotte are grim outcomes for a crew that had received 10 of 11, however the 40-year-old James additionally isn’t involved about Doncic’s begin in purple and gold.

“It’s his third game since Christmas, and it’s his third game with us,” James stated. “He nonetheless doesn’t know all of the performs. He doesn’t know all of the defensive coverages, all of the alerts and issues that we’ve constructed up since September. Clearly, we’re making an attempt to fast-track it on the fly. He’s getting back from his damage. He’s getting again into type, so we’re working by means of it collectively.”

Not the whole lot was grim about Doncic’s efficiency in opposition to Charlotte, his first in which he didn’t have a minutes restriction since his damage return. He led Los Angeles in rebounds, and his plus-13 score was the Lakers’ greatest quantity regardless of his turnovers.

“He’s received to be comfy being himself, as a result of he’s the most effective gamers in the world,” stated Austin Reaves, whose third-quarter ejection was swiftly adopted by the Hornets’ 22-1 run. “We want him to be him, and it’s simply going to take a few video games, a few weeks to determine what that greatest seems like. However we are able to determine it out pretty shortly.”

With the game on the road in the ultimate seconds, Doncic was the one inbounding the ball to James, who then missed two 3-point makes an attempt in the ultimate six seconds. Doncic had no drawback with not being in the late-game highlight.

“He had it going, so clearly we will go to him,” Doncic stated. “I feel it’s going to go each methods. One time it should be him, and one time me. I feel it relies on how the game goes.”

The Lakers acquired Doncic from the Mavs on Feb. 2 in a seismic commerce that despatched Anthony Davis to Dallas.

Doncic performed in each of the Lakers’ remaining two video games earlier than the All-Star break, however he logged solely 47 whole minutes whereas the Lakers eased him again into competitors. Doncic then received a number of days of restoration and reset whereas the remainder of the NBA’s prime gamers convened in San Francisco for the All-Star Game.

“Actually, I used to be getting my thoughts off basketball a little bit bit,” Doncic stated. “I’m simply excited to return again and play. I missed a whole lot of time. I’ve by no means missed this a lot time, so it was one thing new to me. Now I’m simply excited to get again to play.”

Doncic will not have time to dwell on this sluggish begin: The Lakers jumped on a airplane to Portland after their loss, they usually’ll face the Path Blazers on Thursday earlier than visiting Denver on Saturday.

And the Lakers’ subsequent dwelling game? It is in opposition to the Mavericks on Tuesday.

With the shock of the midseason commerce fading extra every day, Doncic is raring to look to the longer term.

“This is likely one of the biggest golf equipment in the world, and I am simply completely happy to be right here,” Doncic stated. “Clearly, I will want a while, however I am completely happy to characterize the Lakers.”