The first game after a lengthy road trip can be tricky.
Coach JJ Redick warned ahead of the Lakers’ home matchup against the Nets that games like Friday night can often feel like road games. And it showed for the Lakers, who struggled early on against the tanking Nets.
But Luka Doncic continued his hot streak, scoring 41 points in the Lakers’ 116-99 win over the Nets at Crypto.com Arena.
“Just playing my game, just trying to get downhill,” Doncic responded when asked what’s helped him sustain his level of player for the last few weeks.
Doncic has averaged nearly 40 points (39.7) in the Lakers’ last 12 games.
“Sometimes the 3s going, sometimes not,” Doncic added. “Just trying to touch the paint, make plays and see what the defense gives me.”
The Lakers outscored the Nets 31-15 in the fourth quarter after leading by just one (85-84) after the first three quarters.
The Nets, who are more interested in having the best shot at securing a high pick in June’s draft instead of winning games, didn’t play three starters (Ziaire Williams, Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton) in the final quarter.
Austin Reaves added 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists. He scored 15 points of his scoring total in the fourth.
LeBron James had 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
What it means
The Lakers improved to 48-26 after their 14th victory in their last 16 games.
Turning point
When Jaxson Hayes blocked Ben Saraf’s putback attempt with 4:19 seconds left in the game.
The Lakers were up 103-97 at the time, struggling to create meaningful separation against the Nets.
Hayes’ block led to Rui Hahcimura drawing a shooting foul in transition, with Hachimura making both free throws to put the Lakers up by eight.
James made a layup on the Lakers’ next possession to put them up 107-97, their largest lead of the second half up to that point.
The Lakers went on a 7-0 run after Hayes’ block.
MVP: Luka Doncic
Despite picking up his technical foul in the third, meaning he’ll have to serve a one-game suspension unless the technical is rescinded, Doncic earned the honor.
His performance on Friday was his second consecutive 40-point game, his sixth in his last 12 games and league-leading 15th 40th-point game of the season.
Stat of the game: 18
That was the combined number of blocked shots and steals the Lakers had against the Nets.
Hayes led the Lakers with five blocked shots, while Doncic had a team-high three steals. Deandre Ayton also had three blocked shots.
Up next
The Lakers will have two full days in between games before hosting the Wizards on Monday.
It’ll mark the first time since mid-January that they had multiple days in between games, outside of the All-Star break.
“It’s gigantic,” James said. :And we got to take full advantage of it, for sure.”
They’ll likely be without Doncic after he picked up his 16th technical foul of the season, leading to a league-mandated one-game suspension.
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