By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A physical encounter with Moritz Wagner and a narrow loss for the Los Angeles Lakers made for a frustrating night for Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic.
After being poked in the eye by the 28-year-old Wagner, 26-year-old Doncic was forced to briefly exit in the first quarter. He returned quickly to record his 27th double-double of the 2025-26 season, though the Lakers ultimately fell 110–109 to the Orlando Magic at crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.
The All-Star combo guard played 38 minutes, tallying 22 points despite struggling from the floor with 8/24 field goals, including 2/10 three-pointers. He added 15 assists and 9 rebounds, falling just one board shy of a triple-double, and also registered one block.
His side squandered a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, eventually losing on a go-ahead layup by Wendell Carter Jr. and a failed final possession. The unfavorable sequence dropped JJ Redick’s squad to 34–23, while the Magic improved to 31–26.
“I thought he had a good look, and it looked like he kind of lost his balance and didn’t have a rhythm with the ball, whatever the case may be. It kind of allowed him to get back in front of him. I was kind of off-balanced when he gave it to me,” LeBron James reflected on the final 6.7 seconds.
“I haven’t had the chance to get into it with Luka. Obviously, he ran a play to get a look. I felt like he had a decent shot,” added 41-year-old Redick on the Lakers failing to convert in the last possession.
“I know I was open, but I just thought I was a little bit far. I was trying to dribble closer,” explained Doncic. “I probably should have picked up the ball and tried to attack. That’s on me.”
German starter Tristan da Silva finished with 13 points behind 5/9 field goals, including three triples, to go with six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Wagner added four points, three rebounds, and one assist, with his brother, Franz (left high ankle sprain injury management), remaining sidelined. France’s Noah Penda and Georgia’s Goga Bitadze did not play.
Besides Doncic on the wrong end, German Maxi Kleber grabbed three rebounds in 11 minutes.