"Too Slow": Luka Doncic Faces Surprise Criticism from Lakers Legend Despite 35 Points in Victory Over Spurs
Lakers great Robert Horry offered unexpected criticism of Luka Doncic despite his impressive performance in the Lakers’ 118-116 win over the Spurs. Doncic led the team with 35 points and 13 assists, but struggled with efficiency, converting just 9 of 27 field-goal attempts.
Throughout the third quarter, Doncic shot only 1 for 9, while the Lakers were outscored 37-28 as San Antonio briefly built a 12-point lead. Hachimura, who had made 4 of 5 shots earlier, did not take a single attempt in that stretch. Doncic played nearly the entire quarter, managing the offense almost solely on his own.
In the fourth quarter, Doncic shifted toward more team-focused play, giving Hachimura four looks at the basket. Both players nailed crucial three-pointers late in the game. With 5:15 left, Hachimura sank one off a Doncic assist to narrow the gap to two points. Doncic himself then hit a decisive long-range shot with 2:31 remaining, which put the Lakers ahead 113-112. The team held onto that lead until the final buzzer.
Despite his shooting struggles and four turnovers, Doncic excelled defensively against Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama, recording five steals and two blocks—an effort that drew widespread praise from fans and analysts alike.
“Doncic didn’t hide his flaws on offense, but his defense was nearly flawless,” noted game analysts after the matchup.
Author’s Summary
Despite offensive inconsistency, Luka Doncic led the Lakers to a narrow win over the Spurs through strong defense and key late-game plays, earning both critique and admiration.