Los Angeles, Mar. 6, 2026 — Luka Doncic said he is determined to elevate his defense after delivering one of his strongest all-around performances of the season in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 126-97 win over the Indiana Pacers at Crypto.com Arena.
Playing the second night of a back-to-back, the All-Star guard poured in 22 first-quarter points and finished with 44 points, nine rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes, sitting out the entire fourth quarter. On the other end, he collected three steals and two blocks. Two nights earlier against the Denver Nuggets, he logged four more steals.
“I know people are not gonna talk about it, never. Just trying to do my job,” Doncic said postgame. “Be more aggressive, more engaged. Just trying to be better on the defensive end.”
Critics have recently targeted Doncic for frequent complaints to officials and inconsistent defense. The 27-year-old acknowledged the scrutiny but framed it as motivation. “It shows that I really care for the game — I want to win every game,” he added. “Obviously, there’s a lot of emotions, but that means a lot of care for the game. This game has given me everything, so that’s why sometimes it’s a lot.”
Redick Backs His Star
Head coach JJ Redick offered a strong endorsement before tip-off. “He’s a special kind of player, special kind of person and a special kind of competitor,” Redick said. “I would much rather have someone who is trying to go out every night and kill than someone you have to revive with a defibrillator every other day. So, I’ll take Luka all day long.”
Doncic, who is averaging 31.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 8.2 assists this season, reiterated that defensive focus will remain a priority as Los Angeles continues its playoff push.
Source: LakersNation.com
