Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic recorded the 4,000th assist of his NBA career on Thursday night, but the milestone came in a 112-104 defeat to the L.A. Clippers at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
Doncic’s fifth assist of the evening pushed him past the landmark figure midway through the first half. He finished the game with eight assists, 32 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Lakers in all three categories.
The loss ended Los Angeles’ two-game winning streak and underscored the team’s reliance on Doncic, especially with guard Austin Reaves sidelined by a calf injury. Doncic shouldered a larger share of the offense, repeatedly creating shots for himself and teammates while the Lakers struggled to find consistency.
The 26-year-old star’s dual threat as scorer and playmaker has been central to the Lakers’ system this season. His vision and creativity have him climbing the NBA’s all-time assists list, and Thursday’s performance suggests more movement up the rankings is imminent.
Despite the setback, Doncic received encouraging news earlier in the day: he is the top vote-getter for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. He expressed appreciation for the fan support, calling the recognition an honor as he continues his campaign for a possible MVP award later this year.
The Lakers return to action looking to rebound from the loss and regain momentum in the Western Conference race.
Source: LakersNation.com
