By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After trailing in Delta Center until early in the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers went up by 12 points and narrowly held on down the stretch to prevail, 143-135, over the Utah Jazz.
Luka Doncic posted a third triple-double in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season on Thursday, tallying 45 points, including ten in the game-changing fourth period. Making 14/28 from the field, including 4/12 three-pointers, was combined with 14 assists and 11 rebounds, plus five steals and only one turnover over 39:33.
“We got a couple of stops in a row, and then we scored on the other end. I made two threes in a row, which was a miracle. So, we went from there,” the 26-year-old Slovenian combo guard described the late rally in a postgame interview.
“I think, honestly, I could do some more. But I think that one turnover is the best on this stat sheet,” Doncic added in a following press conference. “We had seven turnovers, which is impressive for us, and we won the game. In the end, that’s what matters.”
The team coached by JJ Redick improved to 19-7 this season, including 12 wins in 15 road games.
Recovering from a lumbar muscle strain and returning to action, German Maxi Kleber logged 19:00 off the bench, putting up five points, two rebounds, one block, and one assist.
In contrast, Finnish Lauri Markkanen (right groin injury management) was ruled out by the hosts. Starting for Will Hardy’s side, Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic registered 15 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and one steal over 31:34, and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk added 11 points, one steal, and one rebound.