Just over a week ago, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo shocked the basketball world when he scored 83 points in a game, surpassing Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant for the second-most in NBA history. What made it so surprising is that it was Adebayo, not known as an big-time offensive player to accomplish the feat, and not someone like Luka Doncic or Anthony Edwards who are known for their explosive scoring nights.
Perhaps it was a bit poetic then that Doncic would catch fire for the Lakers in their trip to Miami, dropping 60 points in the 134-126 win, the team’s eighth consecutive victory. And afterwards, Adebayo tipped his cap to Doncic for his unreal performance as he is one of the few that can relate, via ESPN:
“He hit some tough shots out there. It is what it is. I know what it’s like to be in that mode. As people can see, it’s not easy to get 80. But he made some tough shots. You tip your hat off and keep pushing.”
Adebayo’s words were undoubtedly directed at those who have been critical of his performance, but he is right in that reaching 80 points in a game, regardless of the circumstance, is not easy. Doncic was absolutely scorching, hitting 18-of-30 from the field including nine 3-pointers and he was still 23 points shy of Adebayo’s mark.
That aside it was truly unreal watching Luka hit tough shot after tough shot down the stretch to push the Lakers to victory. He was defended very well on many of those buckets, but as Adebayo noted, you just have to tip your cap when someone is in that zone. Early in the day, no one was even sure whether Doncic, LeBron James or Austin Reaves would suit up, but they all played and the Slovenia star wound up with his third 60-point game of his career.
The most important thing is that the Lakers won yet again and are on fire as a team, playing their best basketball of the year at the right time. And the biggest catalyst of this stretch of play has been Doncic somehow reaching yet another level that very few in the history of the league have been at.
Lakers coach JJ Redick backs Luka Doncic in NBA MVP race
Despite leading the league in scoring, Doncic hasn’t been mentioned much in the conversations surrounding the MVP award this season. But with this run he’s been on, Lakers head coach JJ Redick is making sure to bring him up as he feels he is more than deserving.
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