LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic believes the Los Angeles Lakers can outperform their current record after the club closed the first half of the schedule with a 123-XXX victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena.
The win moved Los Angeles to 25-16, positioning the team firmly within the Western Conference playoff race despite an irregular first 41 games. “It’s not a bad record. Obviously, it could be better,” Doncic said postgame. “If we play like this and like we did against Atlanta, it gives us a better chance to win.”
Injuries Shape First Half
Health has been a recurring issue. Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves have each missed time, and virtually every key role player has dealt with injuries. Even so, the Lakers have shown flashes of high-level play, highlighted by recent victories over the Raptors and the Atlanta Hawks. Those two performances stand in contrast to a broader stretch in which Los Angeles has dropped five of seven.
Eight-Game Road Trip Looms
The schedule tightens immediately. An eight-game road swing now awaits, placing additional pressure on Doncic and James to guide the roster while Reaves continues to recover from a calf strain.
All-Star Recognition
Doncic’s individual production has not gone unnoticed. The guard was recently announced as a starter for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game after topping the league in fan voting.
Los Angeles sits in a competitive but manageable spot at midseason. Replicating the energy shown against Toronto and Atlanta, Doncic said, will be essential for sustaining momentum over the next 41 games.
Source: Lakers Nation
