The NBA’s leading scorer Luka Doncic surprisingly passed up an open shot in the final seconds, leading to the Lakers’ 110-109 loss to Orlando. The defeat capped off a disappointing 4-4 homestand for Los Angeles as they continue to struggle with clutch-time execution.
LOS ANGELES — In a shocking turn of events Tuesday night, Dallas superstar Luka Doncic found himself with the basketball and an opportunity to secure victory for the Los Angeles Lakers, but the league’s top scorer chose to pass instead.
The decision caught everyone off guard, including LeBron James, who received Doncic’s unexpected pass during the closing seconds of Los Angeles’ 110-109 defeat to the Orlando Magic.
“I thought he had a great look, but that’s my POV,” James said.
The closing sequence unfolded exactly as head coach JJ Redick had designed: James delivered the inbound pass with 6.7 seconds remaining, while Doncic emerged from behind a screen completely unguarded approximately one step beyond the three-point arc.
Despite typically being willing to attempt shots from nearly 30 feet when given such space, Doncic uncharacteristically wavered before pump-faking twice against approaching defenders and ultimately delivering a bounce pass back to a startled James.
“I know I was open, but I just thought I was a little bit far,” Doncic said. “Tried to take one dribble to get a little closer. Probably shouldn’t have picked up the ball, just tried to attack.”
James hurriedly attempted a contested three-pointer that missed badly, sealing a 110-109 defeat that concluded a mediocre 4-4 homestand where the team appeared far from championship caliber.
Los Angeles understands their championship aspirations depend on Doncic and James delivering in crucial moments, yet both stars faltered in the clutch after the team surrendered a 12-point second-half advantage. This marked the Lakers’ first loss this season after holding a lead entering the fourth quarter.
Doncic’s reluctance to shoot surprised observers, particularly his claim that standing just behind the three-point line was too distant for someone who routinely attempts shots from that range.
He later acknowledged that his struggles from beyond the arc might have influenced his decision-making. When questioned whether his 2-for-10 three-point shooting performance against Orlando affected his surprising choice, he responded: “Maybe a little bit.”
James recognized he had minimal time to react when the ball returned to him, but couldn’t manage a quality attempt while facing perimeter pressure from 6-foot-10 defender Jonathan Isaac.
“Obviously you’ll have to ask Luka what he saw on that,” James said. “I thought he had a good look, and it looked like he kind of just lost his balance. Didn’t have the rhythm of the ball, whatever the case may be, and it kind of allowed them to get back in front of him. I was kind of off balance when he gave it to me.”
The duo had collaborated successfully on the preceding play, with Doncic’s baseline inbound finding James for a go-ahead dunk with 26 seconds left. Orlando regained the lead when Wendell Carter Jr. converted a putback layup, leaving Los Angeles with the final possession.
Doncic finished 8-of-24 from the field, with his 22 points representing his lowest output in over three months for a game he completed without early departure due to injury. A final-second heroic shot could have overshadowed his struggles, but the opportunity slipped away.
“I didn’t want to lose the ball, and we didn’t have timeouts,” Doncic said. “But like I said, shouldn’t have picked up the ball. I should attack. That’s on me.”
Coach Redick indicated he hadn’t yet discussed the final possession with Doncic, planning to address it during Wednesday’s flight to Phoenix, where the Lakers will meet a Suns squad closely trailing them for sixth place in the Western Conference standings.
“We obviously ran a play for him to get a look,” Redick said. “I felt like he had a decent shot.”