Luka Doncic downplays officiating amid ‘terrible’ game in Bucks loss

LOS ANGELES – For the first time all season, the Los Angeles Lakers lost a ‘clutch’ game as they fell, 105-101, to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers had been 13-0 in games in which the point differential was five or less with five or less minutes to go in the fourth quarter. It was also the first game the Lakers lost when leading at any point in the fourth quarter, as per Justin Russo of Russo Writes. And the first time Luka Doncic has fouled out since joining the Lakers.

Luka Doncic picked up his sixth foul at the tail end of the fourth quarter as he contested Kevin Porter Jr. 3-point attempt. Doncic was bewildered at the call, which came with 16.2 seconds remaining in the game. He had picked up his fifth at the very end of the third quarter, and had managed to play the entire final period without committing a foul.

Although Doncic had seemingly been bothered by the officiating from the very get-go, he was quick to take responsibility for the loss.

“No, it didn’t affect me. I think I just missed shots that I usually make,” Doncic said following the loss. “Those floaters in the paint, I work on that a lot. Just today, it was a terrible day for me.”

It certainly was an uncharacteristic game from Doncic, who still finished with 24 points, but shot only 8-of-25 (32 percent) from the field, and missed half of his free-throw attempts (4-of-8). He also finished with nine rebounds and nine assists.

For a player that’s currently leading the league in scoring (33.3 points), there’s bound to be some off-nights, according to Lakers head coach JJ Redick.

“I thought there were a few drives early that he felt like he got fouled on, and then he missed some free-throws. I think he’s been such a dynamic driver and paint toucher for us that those plays can kind of mess with your mind a little bit,” Redick said after the game. “But he’s won us so many games. . .whatever game it is, you’re naturally gonna have not your best stuff, and he didn’t have his best stuff tonight.”

Earlier this season, Redick spoke about the balance Doncic has in terms of his decision-making, and how he’s done a good job in achieving that balance as evidenced by him being the NBA’s top scorer.

In addition to his league-leading points per game, he’s also averaging 8.0 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.6 steals. He’s shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 32.3 percent from the 3-point line and 78.4 percent from the free-throw line. He also leads the league in field goal attempts (22.5) and free-throw attempts (12.0).

And overall, he knows that he has to be better, especially down the stretch of a close game.

“Execute better for sure. you see my shot didn’t go well today,” Doncic said. “I could have got better shots, so for sure I could execute better than that.”

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