Luka Doncic’s performance in March has been described as one of the best in recent NBA history, as the Lakers finished the month with a 15-2 record. Doncic scored 42 points with 12 assists in a 127-113 win over the Cavaliers, contributing to his 600-point total for the month. Coach JJ Redick praised Doncic’s March performance following the win.
Doncic’s Dominance and Lakers’ Success
Doncic’s March scoring total reached 600 points, putting him alongside Michael Jordan, who achieved the same feat in 1987. He is one of only 10 players to score 600 points in any month. Despite his individual achievements, Doncic emphasised the importance of the Lakers’ success. He stated that his scoring spree would not mean as much without the team’s winning record.
Doncic also surpassed 15,000 career points during the game against the Cavaliers. He outperformed Donovan Mitchell, who scored 10 points with six assists.
James Makes History, Redick Reaches Milestone
The Lakers’ win against the Cavaliers marked LeBron James’ 1,229th career win (regular season and playoffs). This achievement puts him ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most wins in NBA history. JJ Redick also celebrated his 100th win as a coach.
Redick became the first Lakers coach since Phil Jackson to lead the team to 50 wins in back-to-back seasons. Redick acknowledged his coaching staff’s resilience and resolve. He also said he felt he did not deserve to be mentioned alongside coaching legends like Phil Jackson and Pat Riley.
Playoff Berth Clinched, Thunder Matchup Looms
The Lakers clinched a playoff berth with six games remaining. They will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in two of those games. The Thunder defeated the Lakers twice this season, including one loss by 29 points. The Lakers beat the Cavaliers, despite losing to them by 30 earlier in the season.
- Doncic totalled 600 points in March
- The Lakers went 15-2 in March
- James recorded his 1,229th win
Austin Reaves acknowledged the challenge, calling the Thunder one of the best teams in the league.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder went 14-1 in March. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.7 points on 56.8% shooting and 6.6 assists for the month.