Luka Doncic's 43 points, near
triple-double aren't enough to carry Lakers to a win without LeBron
[October 22, 2025]
By GREG BEACHAM
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic received extensive postgame treatment
after his 43-point performance in the Los Angeles Lakers' season
opener on Tuesday night, delaying his meeting with the media for
well over an hour after the final whistle.
The Lakers didn't say whether Doncic needed that extra recovery time
because he was sore from carrying the Lakers on his back during
their 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Doncic was aggressive and dynamic during his third-highest-scoring
game in a Lakers uniform. He added 12 rebounds and nine assists, but
it wasn't enough to push the Lakers to a victory without LeBron
James, who will be sidelined by sciatica for at least the next few
weeks.
"I think there was a lot of positive things tonight, and obviously a
lot of things we've got to work on," Doncic said. “But my confidence
is fine.”
This loss showed the pitfalls and the possibilities for the Lakers
without the top scorer in NBA history. James can be the binding
fabric and the organizing principle in the Lakers' lineups on both
sides of the court, but for now they've got to figure out how to win
without him — and without relying solely on Doncic.
Coach JJ Redick acknowledged he's stuck between dealing with the
Lakers' current reality and thinking about their long-term prospects
when James returns.
“It’s hard to forget about LeBron,” Redick said. “The reality is
that when you’re focused on the group that you have, you’ve got to
make that group work. (But) sometimes you can just be like, ‘Oh my
God, we’re going to get LeBron back at some point!’ To be honest
with you, I did have one moment in that first half when we had a few
possessions where we couldn’t score against the zone, I thought it
would be great to have LeBron just to throw it to at the high post.”
Until James' sciatica allows him to begin his unprecedented 23rd NBA
season, the Lakers must go on behind Doncic, whose first season
opener for the Lakers was an exhibition of his singular scoring
talent — particularly when he got into the paint against the
smallish Warriors. Doncic was an impressive 15 of 17 inside the
3-point line and 13 of 14 in the paint, but just 2 of 10 on 3-point
attempts.
“When I attack the paint, there are (good) things,” Doncic said.
“I've just got to more attack the paint, and then go from there.”
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) attempts a shot against
the Golden State Warriors during the second half of an NBA
basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP
Photo/Ethan Swope)
Doncic acknowledged that his improved conditioning
helped him against a busy team like the Warriors, although he felt
minor pain in his hip during the game. But when this active,
aggressive version of Doncic kicked the ball out to his teammates,
they too often didn't come through.
Fellow starters Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent were a combined 4 of
10 — taking only 3-point attempts — in 64 combined minutes.
“(Doncic) was being very aggressive today,” Hachimura said. “He gets
a lot of attention, so we’ll get a lot of wide-open 3s from him.
That’s going to be the season. They’re going to do whatever it takes
to guard, so we have to be ready to shoot, to make a decision.”
Austin Reaves, who needs to be a volume scorer in James' absence,
got off to a foul-plagued start and only rallied to score 13 of his
26 points in the fourth quarter. Reaves and Doncic attributed some
of the Lakers' 20 turnovers to learning how to play with their new
teammates, particularly center Deandre Ayton.
“I think I have to do a better job talking to (Ayton, communicating)
what I want, what he wants,” Doncic said. “I don’t think he got
enough touches, so that was on me today.”
But the Lakers also realized they were done in by yet another poor
third quarter, continuing a trend from the past two seasons. Los
Angeles gave up a 16-4 run while falling behind by 17 points, and
they couldn't get closer than six down the stretch.
"The trend I see is that we continue to be a terrible third-quarter
team," Redick said. “That was last year. That was the preseason. Got
to rethink some things, and it's a two-way thing with the guys: What
do they need at halftime to make sure they're ready to play? They're
not ready to play at the start of the third quarter.”
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