The Los Angeles Lakers experienced a heartbreaking loss to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, falling 110-109 in a tightly contested matchup. The game was marked by a critical moment in the final seconds, where Luka Dončić, despite being open, hesitated to take a potential game-winning shot.
“I know I was open, but I just thought I was a little bit far,” Dončić explained after the game. He opted to take one dribble closer but ultimately passed the ball to LeBron James, who was in a challenging position to shoot, resulting in a missed attempt.
James echoed his teammate’s sentiments, noting, “Obviously, you have to ask Luka what he saw on that. But I thought he had a good look.” He added that Dončić appeared to lose his rhythm, which impacted the play.
The Lakers concluded an eight-game homestand with a 4-4 record, struggling in the final moments against both the Boston Celtics and the Magic. The loss was particularly frustrating as the Lakers had a 12-point lead in the second half and managed to reclaim a three-point edge with less than two minutes left. However, a series of missed opportunities, including an open 3-pointer from Austin Reaves that rimmed out, allowed Orlando to surge back into the game.
In the final seconds, after a timeout, the Lakers executed an inbound play that allowed James a clean dunk. But despite this momentum shift, the Magic secured consecutive offensive rebounds, leading to the victory shot by Wendell Carter Jr.
Dončić faced challenges during the game, shooting only 8-for-24 from the field and 2-of-10 from beyond the arc, contributing 22 points overall. He acknowledged that a subpar shooting night may have influenced his hesitant decision-making in the critical moments.
Despite the defeat, the Lakers demonstrated strong ball movement with 24 assists on the night, and Dončić notably recorded a season-high 15 assists. The team remains solid when he facilitates, holding a 15-4 record in games where he registers at least 10 assists.
While the loss stings, it reinforces the Lakers’ potential moving forward, as they continue to develop their on-court chemistry and reliance on teamwork. This experience may serve as a valuable lesson for the young roster as they look to regroup and return to winning form.