Lakers Fall to Magic After Confusing Final Play. Doncic Explains Pass to James
The Los Angeles Lakers endured a 109-108 defeat at the hands of the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, a loss punctuated by a controversial final possession. With 7.0 seconds remaining, a designed play set up Luka Doncic
for an open three-point attempt, but the Slovenian guard ultimately passed the ball to LeBron James
, who missed a difficult shot as time expired.
Doncic’s Explanation
Following the game, questions immediately arose regarding Doncic’s decision to pass up the open look. Doncic revealed that James had requested the ball. “He told me to pass, I passed,”
Doncic stated, shrugging after the loss, according to reports from social media.
Doncic also expressed some regret over his shot selection, acknowledging he may have hesitated. “I knew I stood out, but I thought I was a little far away. I tried to take a dribble to get closer. I probably should have stopped my dribble and shot…”
he said. “I didn’t wish to lose the ball and we didn’t have any more timeouts. But like I said, I shouldn’t have stopped my dribbling. I should have attacked. I thought I had a clean shot, so it’s my fault.”
LeBron’s Perspective
LeBron James offered his own assessment of the play. “You should ask Luka what he saw in action. I thought he had a good shot, but he seemed to lose his balance, not be in rhythm with the ball, for whatever reason,”
James said. “It allowed his defender to get back in front of him. When he gave me the ball, I was a little off balance myself. I thought he had a very good opportunity, but that’s my point of view.”
Lakers crumble on the final play of the game… Magic win!
Luka had a WIDE OPEN look pic.twitter.com/O4uxlufhKo
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 25, 2026
Looking Ahead
The Lakers will need to regroup quickly from this disappointing loss. The incident raises questions about play-calling and trust in crucial moments. The team will undoubtedly analyze the final possession and operate to ensure clearer communication and decision-making in future close games.
FAQ
- What happened on the Lakers’ final play? Luka Doncic passed the ball to LeBron James, who missed a shot at the buzzer.
- Why did Doncic pass the ball? Doncic stated that LeBron James asked him to pass.
- What did LeBron James say about the play? James believed Doncic was off balance and that he had a good look before passing.
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