Amid Luka Doncic buzz, Lakers focus on game against Clippers

LOS ANGELES – Luka Doncic will not be ready to make his Los Angeles Lakers debut on Feb 4 (Feb 5 morning, Singapore time), and that is just fine with crosstown rivals Los Angeles Clippers, who are set to host a meeting between rivals in Inglewood, California.

Doncic was essentially acquired for Anthony Davis in a swop of National Basketball Association (NBA) superstars, shocking the sports world so much that it continues to garner massive attention even during Super Bowl week.

“Sports are about transformative moments,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said regarding the trade on Feb 2.

“We are inspired by these moments Lakers fans know, expect and love with a franchise that continually ushers in new eras of greatness.”

On Feb 4, the Lakers will take the court for the first time since the clandestine deal went down just after midnight on Feb 1. Doncic (calf issue) has not played since Christmas Day and would not be on the floor, although he is getting close to a return.

The Lakers have shown they know how to win without all of their assets available. Davis (abdomen) sat out both of his final two games while still on the Lakers’ roster, and they earned a pair of road victories anyway.

The latest of those wins came on Feb 1, when they turned a two-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter into a 128-112 victory over the New York Knicks.

LeBron James delivered 33 points as part of a triple-double that included 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Austin Reaves had 27 points.

The Lakers also received 15 points and some solid defence on the perimeter from Max Christie, who was also dealt to the Mavericks along with Davis.

Both teams have 28 wins, with the Lakers in fifth place in the Western Conference and the Clippers one game back in sixth. It means that the upcoming matchup between the teams will be for more than just city bragging rights.

Consider the Clippers glad to not be facing Doncic, at least this time around.

His average of 32.6 points per game in 18 contests against the Clippers is his best scoring average against any Western Conference team.

The Clippers are returning home after a 2-2 road trip that concluded with a 115-108 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Feb 2. James Harden scored 25 points, while Kawhi Leonard had 14 points in 27 minutes in his 11th game of the season after returning from a knee injury.

Clippers centre Ivica Zubac scored 18 points and hauled in eight rebounds while playing 40 minutes, tied for his third most in an NBA game in his career. The Clippers struggled while he was off the floor.

“(It’s) just his growth, being able to throw him the ball and trust him in (the) post to be able to score or make the right play,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of Zubac.

“He has matured and grown each year I have been here. Rebounding the basketball, protecting the paint, he has been good for us.”

The Clippers played without leading scorer Norman Powell because of hip soreness. Powell averages 24.1 points, while Zubac grabs a team-best 12.7 rebounds per game.

In NBA action on Feb 3, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 125-96 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks in a battle of short-handed teams.

Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis.

The Thunder were without Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso.

Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City (39-9) have now won five of their last seven, and clinched their last two games by an average of 31.5 points.

Milwaukee (26-22) have lost four consecutive games and five of six. They have given up an average of 131.5 points per game during the skid. REUTERS