LeBron James and Luka Doncic have addressed the late-game miscommunication that cost the Los Angeles Lakers a chance to beat the Orlando Magic.
The Lakers fell 110-109 after a chaotic final possession that ended with a contested miss instead of a clean look.
Both stars reflected candidly on what went wrong in the closing seconds.
LeBron James reacts to final play vs Magic
Speaking in comments shared via TheHoopCentral, James said “Obviously, you have to ask Luka what he saw on that. I thought he had a good look… I was kind of off balance when he gave it to me.
“I thought he had a great look.”
On the decisive in-bound play, Doncic received the ball with seconds remaining and appeared to have space to attempt a shot. Instead, he pump-faked and drove slightly before kicking it out to James, who was not fully set. The rushed attempt fell short, sealing the narrow defeat.
James’ response suggested he believed Doncic initially had the better opportunity, highlighting the split-second nature of late-game decisions.
Luka Doncic admits hesitation on final possession
Doncic explained afterward, “I know I was open but I just thought I was a little bit far, tried to take one dribble closer, probably should have picked up the ball and try to attack.”
The guard acknowledged second-guessing his position beyond the arc and attempting to improve the angle rather than taking the immediate shot. That extra dribble reduced the time available and forced a difficult recovery option.
The miscommunication underscored the fine margins in one-possession games. With the Lakers chasing crucial wins in a tightly contested standings race, execution in final moments remains critical.
Both players appeared aligned in taking responsibility, but the 110-109 loss will linger as a missed opportunity.
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