Lakers lose despite Luka. Los Angeles, Oct. 22, 2025 Luka Doncic had a solid 41 minutes on the court during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 119-109 defeat to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday evening. After the early-season setback, Doncic said he experienced a slight ache on the inside of his right leg, for which he spent additional time in the training room. But he didn’t think it was significant.
Doncic explained during the post-match press conference, Probably nothing serious. I just felt a bit because my hip went the other way. It pained a bit, but I think it’s nothing serious.
Doncic’s dominant performance
Luka Doncic demonstrated his ability in this game with 43 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. Doncic also demonstrated considerable improvement on the defensive side since he joined the Lakers at the tail end of last season. He had two steals and enhanced his coordination with his teammates by being far more active on the court.
Doncic on his performance, “I think I’m improving on defense. I’m just trying to get more involved and talk more to my teammates. Overall, playing 41 minutes felt good for me.
Doncic has gotten in shape with his intense workout and healthy diet during the offseason. The payoff is his play, particularly around the rim. Based on ESPN research, Doncic went 13 of 14 from the paint area and 15 of 17 on two-pointers. This indicates his aggressiveness and dominant presence on the court.
Lakers’ Weaknesses Exposed
While Doncic played a great game, the loss by the Lakers revealed some of the vulnerabilities of the team. The Lakers had 20 turnovers during the game, which resulted in 22 points for the Warriors. Doncic also had three turnovers, a minor negative to his otherwise stellar performance.
In addition, the Lakers’ 3-point shooting was underwhelming. Doncic hit just 2 of 10 three-point attempts, and the team collectively hit just 8 of 32. The weakness continued in the third quarter when the Lakers were down 35-25, putting Golden State in a good position to win the game.
Lakers coach JJ Redick was dismayed by the team’s third-quarter performance. He explained, “We’re still a very poor team in the third quarter. This was an issue last year, and it showed in the preseason, also. We need to go back to this. This is the coach’s and the players’ job. We need to figure out what the players do between halftime so they’re prepared for the beginning of the third quarter.”
Doncic’s Fitness and Future Strategy
Doncic’s athleticism and vitality on the court have been a silver lining for the Lakers this season. His off-season training has made him more efficient close to the rim, and his defensive skills are also uplifting for fans. Although his minor injury is cause for concern, Doncic and the coaching team do not view it as severe.
The Lakers will have two days of recovery and practice time before hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. The time will allow for Doncic to heal from his injury and for the team to work on their third-quarter game plan.
- Luka Doncic showed his vast potential against the Golden State Warriors, but the Lakers’ defeat revealed the strategic weakness of the team. Turnovers, ineffective three-point shooting, and poor play in the third quarter influenced the game in favor of the Warriors. As the season goes on, the Lakers will have to eliminate these weaknesses, and Doncic’s fitness and enhanced defense will be instrumental in it.
The Lakers will get an opportunity to learn from their errors and make a comeback in their next game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fans are going to watch Doncic and his team as they seek a new beginning this season.
