"You’re Not Getting That in the Playoffs!": Kevin Durant’s Warning to Luka Doncic Backfires in Los Angeles Lakers’ Win

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 17, 2025, 23:37 IST

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Luka Doncic excelled with 33 points, leading the Lakers to a crucial win in LeBron James' absence. The Suns, struggling with poor three-point shooting, face internal conflicts and are now 1.5 games behind Dallas in the playoff race.

"You’re Not Getting That in the Playoffs!": Kevin Durant’s Warning to Luka Doncic Backfires in Los Angeles Lakers’ Win

Image Via Getty

Kevin Durant warned Luka Doncic, "You’re not getting that in the playoffs!" But Doncic had other ideas in mind. The Lakers' star shined with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, helping the team break their losing streak. In contrast, Durant's Suns struggled with their shooting and faced some internal conflicts. Now sitting 1.5 games behind Dallas, Phoenix's chances of making the playoffs are quickly slipping away.

Luka Doncic Steps Up with 33 Points in LeBron James’ Absence for Los Angeles Lakers

Luka Doncic had an incredible game, topping the scoring charts with 33 points, while also grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out eight assists.

He really showed off his skills in reading the defense and creating opportunities, especially as the Suns tried to pressure him early on. Even though he shot 8-of-20 from the field, his influence on the game was clear, highlighting his toughness and ability to adjust.

This win meant a lot for the Lakers because LeBron James is having a tough time due to a groin strain so he was out of the game. Doncic's strong leadership and impressive play brought the stability and scoring ability the team required to turn things around after their recent struggles.

Phoenix Suns’ Three-Point Shooting Disaster with Only 9 of 41 Attempts Made

The Phoenix Suns faced challenges during the game because their vital players failed to perform as expected. Kevin Durant scored 21 points while attempting 17 shots where he only converted six and Devin Booker provided 19 points and 11 assists but made only six out of seventeen shots. The Suns struggled during the game as they launched their 41 three-point shots and succeeded with just 9 of them.

It's been a tough season for the Suns, marked by inconsistency and some friction within the team, especially between Durant and head coach Mike Budenholzer. This loss only adds to their challenges as they aim for a play-in tournament spot, currently 1.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks.
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With Luka Doncic leading the way and Jaxson Hayes making a timely comeback, the squad is looking strong for the rest of the season, especially with LeBron James expected to return soon. Meanwhile, the Suns need to tackle their internal challenges and establish some consistency if they want to make it to the playoffs.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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