Luka Dončić made a spectacular debut for the Los Angeles Lakers, helping secure a commanding 132-113 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night. The Slovenian superstar, recently acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster trade, made his first appearance since Christmas Day, scoring 14 points, grabbing five rebounds, and dishing out four assists in 24 minutes of play.
LeBron James led the charge with 24 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, while Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura added 22 and 21 points, respectively. The Lakers extended their winning streak to six games and have now won 10 of their last 11 matchups.
Jordan Goodwin, in his second game with the Lakers, made an impact off the bench with 17 points, adding to the team’s dominant performance. Meanwhile, Utah struggled on the road, suffering their ninth consecutive away loss.
Lauri Markkanen and John Collins led the Jazz with 17 points each, while Jordan Clarkson contributed 16 points.
Dončić, still regaining his rhythm after recovering from a left calf strain, shot 5-of-14 from the field and 1-of-7 from three-point range. However, he wasted no time making an impression, sinking his first basket in a Lakers uniform—a three-pointer—just eight minutes into the game.
Read also: Unai Emery admits hugely challenging to get Rashford firing again
The Lakers took control early, leading 37-25 at the end of the first quarter and 72-47 by halftime, thanks to a blistering 60% shooting performance in the first half. By the start of the fourth quarter, Los Angeles held a 100-75 lead, leaving little doubt about the outcome.
The only concern for the Lakers came in the fourth quarter when LeBron James briefly exited the game due to abdominal discomfort. He returned to the bench but did not re-enter the contest.
With this victory, the Lakers have now won all three meetings against the Jazz this season. The final showdown between the two teams is set for Wednesday in Salt Lake City, where Dončić will have another chance to showcase his impact in purple and gold.