Doncic Fiery Media Clash: Marcus Smart was also instrumental in

Following his team’s victorious rally against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, where the Los Angeles Lakers’ star Luka Doncic led all scorers with 27 points, an inquiry regarding the NBA play-offs seemed to irritate the exhausted athlete.

In the Lakers’ third straight triumph, Doncic tallied 10 rebounds and seven assists. He was accompanied by LeBron James, who contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, with the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player now approaching within two field goals of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 15,837.

Marcus Smart was also instrumental in the 110-101 contest, acting as the Lakers’ linchpin of defense with four steals and three blocks.

After the Lakers secured back-to-back victories, the 24-time Grand Slam champion was photographed alongside Doncic and teammate LeBron James. The Slovenian contributed 28 points and nine assists, while the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player scored an additional 24 points.

Luka Doncic assessment: Lakers’ triumph over the Pelicans

With seven minutes and 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Lakers were trailing 94-86 when coach JJ Redick requested a stoppage. His team subsequently scored 24 of the following 31 points between the two sides, improving their standing to 4-0 in encounters this season.

“They achieved a scoring streak, but we acknowledged that ample time remained,” Doncic remarked. “Occasionally, victory must be secured even when performing poorly – a characteristic of strong teams. This was not our finest performance.”

When questioned regarding the Lakers’ readiness for a prospective run in the play-offs, scheduled to commence on April 18, Doncic appeared displeased.

He responded sharply, asking, “Will this inquiry be posed to me nightly? We have triumphed three times consecutively… our team cohesion will continue to develop.”

“It may or may not be the ideal moment. We simply need to tackle these contests with an unchanging mindset.”

Marcus and Luka delivering consecutive triples in critical moments 💪pic.twitter.com/LfGWxSIux4

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers)March 4, 2026

Despite the Pelicans being short-handed this season, Trey Murphy III – a prospective Lakers acquisition candidate – registered 24 points, and Zion Williamson contributed 21 as the forward persisted in his return from a sprained right ankle.

“We recognized we weren’t simply facing their win-loss tally,” James stated, referring to the Pelicans’ streak of four consecutive victories prior to their loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

“This marks the first occasion they’ve been fully healthy in some time, and we are aware of their capabilities as a squad.”

“We entered with that perspective, comprehending the caliber of opponent we faced. Our belief was that we were competing against a highly dynamic team that has demonstrated outstanding play recently.”

JJ Redick: Marcus Smart ‘outstanding’

Redick commended Smart for exhibiting “excellent play for the past five or six weeks.” Redick observed, “You all enjoy discussing responsibilities and categorizing athletes into specific functions.”

“Smart has excelled in his assigned function and delivered precisely what we require. He has proven formidable for us on the defensive end.”

“On several instances, as the team’s momentum began to diminish, he executed a significant defensive action, secured a turnover, initiated a fast break, which led to our scoring, prompting them to request a stoppage.”

NBA outcomes: Knicks defeated Spurs, Celtics vanquished 76ers

Additional outcomes in the NBA on Tuesday featured a significant triumph for the San Antonio Spurs against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Upcoming events in the NBA? Matchups and timetable

NBA play recommences with six contests scheduled for Wednesday.