Last night, the devastating loss left Luka Doncic in an unfamiliar spot. The Lakers, with LeBron James back in the lineup, looked confident to ram down the Chicago Bulls. However, the team wasn’t connected defensively despite the physical nature of their gameplay. Coby White and Matas Buzelis used it to their advantage, putting together 67 points to orchestrate a 146-115 win. The Slovenian guard, who had yet another all-round game (34-8-6), couldn’t really make any difference.

The Bulls were consistent throughout the game, scoring above 30 points in all quarters. While the Lakers matched up their offensive pace in the first half, returned to their old habit of losing the plot in the second half. The Chicago side tightened the screws on both ends, leaving the home side no option other than surrendering. Despite LeBron James‘ effort to spark a comeback, White & Co. managed to counter it every single time. 

A few weeks ago, the Lakers were considered favorites to win the title. However, since the injury, it has not been the same. In the last 10 games, the team has lost 6 games. Even Bron’s return couldn’t save the team, as the team looked completely disconnected on the field, conceding 21 turnovers. Touching upon that, a reporter asked Luka Doncic how the team managed to reconnect, and he responded, “Honestly, I don’t know.”

Next up, the team has another coming in a day. So, there’s very little time to reconnect. Realizing it, Doncic continued, “Tomorrow, we have a six-hour flight. I don’t think that’s an option, but playing the game, be in the game together. Honestly, I don’t know how, but when we were together before the injuries, we were doing great stuff.” With only 12 games left in the season, this should be the last concern for a championship-favorite team.

Nevertheless, the Lakers Nation need not to worry. The Slovenian baller has found the key to come out of the rut.

Luka Doncic hopes LeBron James’ return will make the difference

Two weeks ago, LeBron James exited the TD Garden arena in the middle of the game after injuring his groin. Following that, the team lost 4 games in a row. Fans sat tight and hoped that things would go back to normal once Bron returned. After missing seven straight games, he returned to action. Unfortunately, he wasn’t at his usual best, scoring only 17 points with 6 rebounds. Most importantly, he conceded 5 turnovers. 

However, Luka Doncic didn’t seem bothered by it as he confidently said, “He’s back. It’s gonna be easier for everybody. He makes the game easier for everybody around him,” at the post-game presser. While it sounded contradictory to the game’s result, he quickly added, “Obviously first game back for him, but we got to forget about this game. Focus on the next one. It’s really going to be hard.”

Next up, the Lakers face the Orlando Magic on Monday night. It’s going to be a tough challenge, considering the physical nature of the Magic’s defense. Paolo Banchero & Co. has the potential to upset any given team on the floor on their best night. So, given the Lakers’ lean patch, it will be a tough game. Can the Lakers pull off a miracle? Let us know in the comments below.