After Luka Doncic’s successful, albeit limited, debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, the team aims to extend its win streak to seven games when they face the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night.
Los Angeles coach JJ Redick plans on playing Doncic alongside LeBron James against the Jazz in the Lakers’ final game before the week-long All-Star break. The Jazz, meanwhile, are opening a back-to-back set featuring both Los Angeles teams, with the Clippers coming to town on Thursday night. Utah has lost three straight games and 15 of their last 18.
The Lakers are going for a four-game sweep of the season series after cruising to a 132-113 victory over the Jazz on Monday night. Doncic, playing for the first time after being traded from Dallas earlier this month in a blockbuster deal that involved fellow All-NBA player Anthony Davis going to the Mavericks, amassed 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 24 minutes in his first game since sustaining a calf injury on Christmas Day.
This game will provide another opportunity for James and Doncic to build chemistry, as some have questioned whether two players who are accustomed to being the No. 1 option can be successful together in the long term. On Monday, James made 10 of 17 shots for 24 points, along with eight assists and seven rebounds, in 29 minutes. Austin Reaves added 22 points and nine boards.
By late in the first quarter on Monday, the Jazz succumbed to the pressure of the night and the Lakers’ offensive weapons. Despite having most of their roster back, Utah trailed by 12 points after the first quarter, gave up 72 total points in the first half, and trailed by as many as 34 points in the game.
Seven Jazz players scored in double figures, with John Collins (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Walker Kessler (13 points, 12 rebounds) each earning double-doubles. Lauri Markkanen also scored 17 points. Defensively, though, the Jazz struggled all night, allowing the Lakers to shoot 54.3 percent from the field.
On Tuesday, the Lakers made another attempt to add frontcourt depth with the signing of free agent 12-year veteran center Alex Len. The move came after a trade to acquire center Mark Williams from Charlotte fell apart, reportedly over the results of Williams’ physical with the Lakers’ medical personnel. Len, 31, played this season for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds across 7.2 minutes in 36 games (three starts).
