The Lakers’ 111-108 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on March 10, 2025, was one of those games that just leaves you shaking your head. It wasn’t just the final score—it was everything leading up to it. The missed shots, the defensive breakdowns, the questionable calls. And in the middle of it all? Luka Doncic, battling through traps, defensive pressure, and his own frustration.

This wasn’t just another tough loss. It was a game that raised questions. About execution,  about composure. About how the Lakers are adjusting with LeBron James still sidelined. And, of course, about the officiating, which once again found itself at the center of attention.

But if you were expecting head coach JJ Redick to go off about the refs, you’d be disappointed. He wasn’t having any of it. No excuses. No distractions. Just straight-up accountability. And that included calling out Doncic—not for his attitude, but for how he handled the moment.

With Luka picking up yet another technical foul in just 12 games as a Laker, the obvious question came up—was his frustration starting to hurt the team? The way Redick answered, though, made it clear he wasn’t about to turn this into a bigger deal than it needed to be.

“I think he’s been fine. Believe me, I’ve seen Luka get on the officials worse,” Redick said, brushing off any concerns. “It’s just frustration. Feeling like he got fouled some, feeling frustrated with how he played. So it’s part of it.“

That’s Redick for you. He’s not the type to overreact. But he was quick to shift the focus to what actually mattered—execution. Brooklyn threw traps at Doncic all night, and the Lakers had to find ways to make them pay. Sometimes, they did. Other times? Not so much.

“I thought we made some good pocket decisions,” Redick said. “I thought when we were able to get them in the blunder, we generated good offense, I actually thought there were some good to greats that we missed throughout the game.“

The Lakers left points on the table. The reads were there. The opportunities were there. They just didn’t capitalize enough.

To be fair, Brooklyn’s defensive game plan wasn’t subtle—they were coming for Luka and Austin Reaves hard, daring other guys to step up. And to their credit, some did. Gabe Vincent had 24 points. Dalton Knecht added 19. Jordan Goodwin knocked down five threes on his way to 17.

But it still wasn’t enough.

Luka Doncic Owns Up to Mistakes

Now, here’s the thing—Doncic still put up a triple-double. He finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. But if you watched the game, you know those numbers don’t tell the whole story. He struggled with efficiency, going just 8-of-26 from the field and 2-of-9 from deep. And he knew it.

“Yeah, I’m comfortable with that,” Doncic said when asked about handling the defensive pressure. “You can see in the other games. Today wasn’t a good example of me, but you can see in the other games, you know, when the blitz came, we were in great spots.“

That last part? That’s where the frustration kicked in. The Lakers had been handling these situations well in previous games. But against Brooklyn, something was off. And Doncic didn’t shy away from saying what it was.

“That’s what, like, when JJ said about communication—today, that wasn’t on point. That’s my fault, and we should’ve done better.“

It’s rare to see a star of Doncic’s caliber put the blame on himself so openly, but that’s what makes him different. He wasn’t just talking about himself, though—he was making sure to highlight his teammates, reinforcing that this isn’t a one-man show. With LeBron still out, that trust is going to be critical down the stretch.

Look, neither Doncic nor Redick used the refs as an excuse. They weren’t about to give that storyline any fuel. But if you watched the game, you know there were moments that changed everything.

The Nets shot 30 free throws. The Lakers? Just 19. And down the stretch, two calls stood out like a sore thumb.

First, Austin Reaves got hit with a foul on a Cam Johnson three-point attempt, sending him to the line for three crucial free throws. And then, right after that, Doncic drove into the lane, got hit, and… nothing. No call. Instead, Brooklyn grabbed the loose ball, sprinted the other way, and sealed the game with a transition bucket.

You could see the frustration on Doncic’s face. But he wasn’t about to let that be the headline. And neither was Redick.

With LeBron still out, the Lakers are asking a lot from Doncic right now. Redick knows it. Doncic knows it. But the only way they’re going to stay in the fight for a top playoff spot is if they tighten things up and execute better in these kinds of games.

“We should’ve done better,” Doncic said. And really, that’s the bottom line.

This loss was frustrating in a lot of ways, but the good news? The Lakers aren’t making excuses. They know what needs to be fixed. Now it’s just about doing it.