NEW YORK — It may be simple to neglect, with the franchise’s blockbuster commerce for Luka Doncic overshadowing all the things else that’s occurred over the weekend across the group and the NBA as an entire.
However earlier than the Lakers made one of many greatest, and most stunning, trades in NBA historical past, they have been trending in a optimistic course.
They’ve received six of their final seven video games and eight of their previous 10. Their 128-112 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday evening at Madison Sq. Backyard – with out Anthony Davis, who they traded to the Dallas Mavericks as a part of the deal for Doncic together with Max Christie – was certainly one of their most spectacular victories of the season.
They have been beginning to flip a nook.
It was evident of their 28-19 report as they’ve inched nearer to having a impartial internet differential, but it surely was additionally evident of their play over the previous couple of weeks.
The Lakers have been trying like a group that would make noise as soon as the playoffs rolled round. Their game-plan self-discipline and execution have been bettering. The protection, which ranked No. 4 within the league since Dec. 8, appeared to make a respectable turnaround from the early-season struggles. And the offense had proven life after a drought in late November by way of late December.
However now, the complexion of the Lakers’ season and basis has been shaken, with the franchise set to usher in a brand new period led by Doncic.
Though the 25-year-old five-time All-Star isn’t anticipated to be accessible for Tuesday evening’s matchup towards the Clippers on the Intuit Dome, the top of the Lakers’ “Grammy” highway journey that they’re at the moment 4-1 on and their first recreation since buying Doncic, his presence will nonetheless be felt on Tuesday.
The supply ought to supply perception into when Doncic, who has been sidelined since struggling a strained left calf on Dec. 25, will make his Lakers debut.
Lengthy-time NBA reporter Marc Stein reported that Doncic was focusing on a return to the courtroom for Dallas’ Feb. 8 recreation towards the Houston Rockets, however it’s unclear if that reported timeframe will stay the identical now that Doncic is a Laker.
ESPN and Andscape senior NBA author Marc Spears reported on ESPN’s “NBA Today” that Doncic is focusing on a return for subsequent week earlier than the All-Star break: the Feb. 10 dwelling recreation vs. the Utah Jazz or the Feb. 12 highway recreation towards the Jazz in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Tuesday will even be the primary time a member of the Lakers has publicly spoken with reporters because the commerce was made, offering the chance for larger perception into the franchise’s perspective of the commerce, and the way it happened.
Mavericks basic supervisor Nico Harrison, who credited Pelinka with rumors of the commerce not getting out earlier than the deal was finalized, spoke with reporters on Sunday after the commerce was formally made earlier within the day.
“We definitely understand the magnitude of what just transpired. It’s not lost on us. We would like to thank Luka for his brilliance,” Harrison stated.
There will even be media availability with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, who the Lakers additionally acquired within the deal that grew to become official on Sunday, later within the morning. Kleber has additionally been sidelined after fracturing his proper foot within the Mavericks’ loss to the Boston Celtics on Jan. 25.
Within the backdrop of the aftermath of the Lakers’ hectic final couple of days would be the second “Battle of L.A.” of the season after the Clippers received the primary matchup, 116-102, on Jan. 19 within the Lakers’ first go to at Intuit Dome.
Regardless that they received’t totally appear to be it on Tuesday, the Lakers might be a a lot completely different group, with the outcomes of their most up-to-date commerce being felt far past Tuesday evening’s end result.
LAKERS AT CLIPPERS
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
The place: Intuit Dome
Initially Revealed: February 4, 2025 at 5:13 AM PST
