In 24 minutes of action, Dončić started and recorded 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting from the field and 1-for-7 shooting from three, along with five rebounds, four assists, and one turnover. He was also a +15 in the plus/minus category, the fourth highest on the team.

Every seat in Crypto.com Arena was draped in a shirt of Lakers gold with a bold purple “77″ on the chest. The buzz outside and inside the arena was palpable ahead of Monday night’s game, as if an electric current of Luka Dončić anticipation was running through every person,