Luka Doncic pulled up to Game 3 looking like he just lost a fight with a gas station burrito. The vibes were off from the jump. ESPN’s Lisa Salters broke the news about Luka battling a stomach bug, and JJ Redick didn’t sugarcoat it—basically said Luka’s been running on empty for 24 hours. Not ideal when you’re playing playoff basketball in Minnesota, where the mood shifts like the weather, against a team that’s built like a bar fight.

Mike Trudell chimed in mid-game, too: “Low energy, upset stomach, still wants to compete.” Which is baller… and also a little terrifying. Because here’s the thing: Luka is playing. He’s gutting it out. But he’s clearly not Luka-Luka. This is Luka on airplane WiFi. Still technically functioning, just… very delayed. Entering the 4th quarter he’s putting up 13 points, 8 assists, 5 boards—solid numbers for anyone else, but for him?

That historic streak? Yeah, it’s wobbling. Luka Doncic is about to snap his run of 14 straight playoff games with 27+ points. That streak had him tied with Wilt “I Invented Numbers” Chamberlain. It’s elite company. But unless Luka finds a third wind (he’s already used up two), the streak might stay behind in Minneapolis—just like half the Lakers’ defense.

But let’s be real: most dudes would’ve stayed in bed with Netflix and a Gatorade. Luka said, “Nah, I’m hooping.” Even sick, he’s finding open guys, playing chess while everyone else is still figuring out checkers. It’s not peak Luka, but it’s still better than like… 90% of the league.

Still, just because Luka’s fighting through it doesn’t mean fans are cutting him slack—this is the playoffs, and Twitter’s got zero chill.

Luka Doncic’s Stomach Bug Had More Movement Than He Did, According to Fans

Now, you know how fans are. They’re loving the hustle, but they also know what they’re seeing isn’t the usual Luka magic. They’ve got thoughts, and they’re not shy about sharing them on X.

First up, there’s the fans who think Luka’s doing more harm than good right now. One tweet put it bluntly: “Luka now hurting the team on both ends of the floor. JJ has to make a hard decision here.” And honestly? Tough call for JJ Redick, because Luka’s putting the effort in, but you can see the limitations—especially defensively. At this point, his body’s trying to play playoff basketball, but it’s clearly out of sync with the rest of his game.

Then, we’ve got the people calling out Luka’s rotations. One fan chimed in: “Luka’s rotations are awful right now.” And yeah, it’s hard to argue with that. Whether it’s fatigue or just off timing, Luka’s usually masterful court awareness is MIA. He’s been taking a little longer to get to spots, his usual explosive moves aren’t hitting, and his teammates are forced to adjust on the fly.

Finally, there’s the fan who’s just done with Luka Doncic trying to tough it out: “Luka can’t run bro.” Ouch. It’s not wrong, though. Luka’s not able to push the pace like he usually does, and it’s a noticeable difference. When he’s moving like this, it’s not the same threat to defenses—it’s more of a slow burn, and unfortunately, his team needs him at full throttle to close out a tough series.

In the end, it just wasn’t the Lakers’ night. LeBron turned back the clock, dropping a vintage 38-10-4, but the Lakers couldn’t keep up. The Timberwolves took it, 116–104. Luka, still battling the stomach bug, finished with 17 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds. Respect for gutting it out, but that 27+ playoff point streak? R.I.P. for now. Game 4 tips off April 27 at 12:30 PM PDT in Minneapolis. The Lakers better bring more than just vibes to the Target Center.