New-look LA Lakers visit Utah Jazz, go for 7th straight NBA win

LOS ANGELES – After Luka Doncic’s successful, albeit limited, debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb 10, the team will aim to extend their win streak to seven National Basketball Association (NBA) games when they face the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Feb 12 (Feb 13, Singapore time).

Los Angeles coach J.J. Redick said he plans on playing Doncic alongside LeBron James against the Jazz in the Lakers’ final game before the week-long All-Star break.

The Jazz (12-40), who have lost three straight games, are meanwhile opening a back-to-back set featuring both Los Angeles teams – the Clippers visit on Feb 13.

The Lakers (32-19) are going for a four-game sweep of the season series after claiming a 132-113 win over Utah on Feb 10.

The 25-year-old Doncic played for the first time after being traded from Dallas earlier in February in a blockbuster deal that involved Anthony Davis going to the Mavericks.

In his first game since suffering a calf injury on Christmas Day, he racked up 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes.

“I was a little bit nervous before,” Doncic said.

“I don’t remember the last time I was nervous before the game. But once I stepped on the court, it was fun. And just being out there again felt amazing.”

The Slovenian added he was inspired by a pre-game message from his new superstar teammate. As overheard on the ESPN broadcast, James colourfully told Doncic: “Be yourself.”

“For him to say something like that just feels amazing. It gives me confidence,” Doncic said. “And after that speech, it was chills. I was just happy to be a part of it.”

The next game will give James and Doncic another chance to build chemistry, after some have questioned whether two players who are accustomed to being the No. 1 option can be successful together in the long term.

“They’re two of the best thinkers, problem-solvers that we’ve ever seen,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said.

“I don’t see any world where those two playing together isn’t a good thing. Like I said, their processing speed, mentally, is incredible. And so, I’m sure they’ll figure it out.”

On Feb 10, James made 10 of 17 shots for 24 points with eight assists and seven rebounds. He played 29 minutes. Austin Reaves had 22 points and nine boards.

By late in the first quarter, the Jazz succumbed to the pressure of the night and the Lakers’ offensive weapons.

Despite having most of their roster back, Utah trailed by 12 points after the first quarter, gave up 72 total points in the first half and were behind by as many as 34 points in the game.

Defensively they struggled all night, allowing the Lakers to shoot 54.3 per cent from the field.

“We’ve got to learn how to not be rattled by opponents’ big-time shots or stuff like that. That’s a continual training process and continual learning process,” centre Walker Kessler said.

“Regardless of what people will say about us, I think we’re very resilient and I think that we’ll come out. We’ll lose some tough ones, but in the long run, that’s going to do us well.”

On Feb 11, the Lakers made another attempt to add front-court depth with the signing of free agent and veteran centre Alex Len. The move came after a trade to acquire centre Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets fell apart, reportedly over the results of his physical test with the Lakers’ medical personnel.

Len, 31, played this season for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds across 7.2 minutes in 36 games (three starts).

Meanwhile in NBA action on Feb 11, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 40 points and 12 rebounds, with Josh Hart adding a season-high 30 points, as the New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 128-115 in Indianapolis.

Hart also had 10 rebounds and five assists. Miles McBride added 15 points for New York, who drew clear in the fourth quarter to win the season series against Indiana 2-1. REUTERS