Luka Doncic scores 60 points against the Heat, Lakers on fire
Luka Doncic scored 60 points against Miami, the first Lakers player to score 60 points since the final game of Kobe Bryant’s career in 2016.
MIAMI — When the star of Los Angeles Lakers, Luka Doncicheaded to the free throw line Thursday with 14.8 seconds left, needing to make one of two to reach 60 points, a curious thing happened at the Kaseya Center.
The local fans of Miami Heat He started chanting, “MVP! MVP!” for Doncic.
“It was pretty impressive, especially on a road game in Miami,” he said. Doncic after Los Angeles’ 134-126 victory extended the team’s winning streak to eight games. “Hearing all the fans chanting ‘MVP’ is what I think every player wants to hear… It gave me goosebumps, so it was very special.”
Doncic He missed his first free throw, walked away from the line and smiled as he composed himself before making the second, thus achieving his third game with at least 60 points in his career and the highest score by an opponent in Miami, surpassing James Harden’s 58 points on February 28, 2019.
When the final whistle sounded, Doncic He was surrounded by his teammates, who celebrated him for his fourth game with more than 40 points in the last eight games.
“That’s what it’s all about,” he said. Doncic about his team’s reaction. “Seeing everyone celebrating on the bench… shows that we care a lot about each other. And that’s what great teams do. It fills me with joy to see them celebrate my 60-point game.”
The outburst came one night after scoring 40 points in a win over the Houston Rockets. Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves they played both consecutive games after being listed as doubtful due to various lingering injuries.
“Obviously, you’re tired, but I think it was more of a mental thing,” he said. Doncic. “Like (coach) JJ (Redick) said before the game, ‘It’s a mental game.’ And it was. You just have to tell yourself you’re not tired and keep going.”
The final statistics of Doncic There were 60 points on 18 of 30 field goals (9 of 17 on three-pointers), seven rebounds, three assists and five steals. It was just the fifth 60-point, five-steal game in league history, joining Harden (2019), Allen Iverson (2005), Michael Jordan (1993) and Rick Barry (1974).
During the winning streak of the LakersDoncic averages 40.9 points.
James started the game shooting 7 of 7 from the field and finished with 19 points (8 of 12 on field goals), 15 rebounds and 10 assists, thus achieving his second triple-double of the season. Reaves scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half to help Los Angeles overcome an early 15-point deficit.
Redick came to the party defending the candidacy of Doncic to the MVP, even before he became the first Lakers player to score 60 points since Kobe Bryant’s brilliant end to his career on April 13, 2016.
“He’s playing as well as anyone in basketball,” Redick said of Doncic. “He has raised his level of play at a crucial moment for our team. He has also improved the performance of his teammates. I think we all, coaches and teammates, fully trust him to close out the games. He has been fantastic, and I think he is one of the best and should be among the MVP candidates.
“Hopefully people will start talking about it, because he’s having as good a season as anyone.”
