The Los Angeles Lakers are on a roll, notching their ninth consecutive victory with a thrilling win over the Orlando Magic. The hero of the night? Luke Kennard, who sank a game-winning three-pointer that had Lakers fans buzzing.
But let's not overlook the brilliance of Luka Doncic. He delivered yet another stellar performance, racking up 33 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and four steals.
Doncic is on fire, averaging an impressive 41.7 points, eight rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2.7 steals over his last six games. This late-season surge is thrusting him right back into the MVP conversation.
Doncic's scoring prowess is nearing a career peak, with a current average of 33.4 points per game. That's just a hair below his best season with the Dallas Mavericks, where he posted 33.9 points per game in 2023-24.
However, the night wasn't without drama. Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul after a heated exchange with Magic center Goga Bitadze. This would typically mean a one-game suspension, a potential blow to the Lakers' momentum in the tight Western Conference race.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, the league rescinded the technical after reviewing the incident, acknowledging Bitadze's role in the altercation. So, Doncic remains eligible to play, keeping the Lakers' engine running smoothly.
With the Lakers sitting comfortably in third place, two and a half games ahead of the Houston Rockets, every game counts. They'll take a breather on Sunday before hitting the road again to face the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Keep an eye on Doncic and the Lakers as they continue their push in this competitive season.