A chorus of boos rang through Paycom Center as Luka Doncic emerged from the Lakers bench during pregame introductions.
The animosity was palpable, and both parties knew exactly why.
Just nine months ago, Doncic shattered OKC’s championship aspirations, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a playoff elimination of the Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. Since the blockbuster trade that sent the Slovenian superstar from Dallas to Los Angeles in February, his return to the court in new threads was bound to reignite Thunder fans’ disdain for Doncic.
“It’s very tough to play here,” Doncic said. “It’s very tough to win, but looking at the standings today, it's crazy in the West. It brings the competitive spirit out of me.”
Sunday featured a deja vu triggering performance of sorts for fans in Paycom Center.
Doncic, living up to his ‘Luka Magic’ moniker, put on a show in his first game against the Thunder as a Laker. The five-time All-Star finished with 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists, leading Los Angeles to a dominant 126-99 victory.
Former OU guard Austin Reaves added 20 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc while LeBron James chipped in 19 points and seven assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander totaled a team-high 26 points and nine assists for the Thunder.
The Lakers drained a ...
