Los Angeles Lakers superstars LeBron James and Luka Dončić combined for 60 points to stave off the New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 during Tuesday’s road clash.
Afterward, James put to rest any concerns about his fit with Dončić amid persistent rumblings about their overlapping playstyles.
LeBron James Sets the Record Straight on Luka Dončić’s Place in Lakers’ Hierarchy
Since LA acquired Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks at last year’s trade deadline, many have raised questions about his partnership with James, largely due to the versatile playmakers’ shared preference to operate on-ball.
However, the duo has been thriving offensively as of late, scoring 18 of their combined 60 points in the fourth quarter on Tuesday. The Lakers outscored the Pelicans 32-17 in the final frame, pulling away behind an 18-4 run sparked by two 3-pointers from James.
James and Dončić each executed down the stretch, punctuated by Dončić drilling two off-balance triples late in the shot clock in the final four minutes to ice the game.
Luka Magic🔥 https://t.co/fTI4qkEGEz
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) January 7, 2026
LA overcame a career-high 42-point effort from New Orleans wing Trey Murphy III to secure its third straight victory and fourth in its last five outings.
During his postgame interview, James was asked how important it is for Dončić to “bend his game” around him to maximize their effectiveness. The four-time MVP promptly pushed back on the notion, emphasizing Dončić’s clear-cut status as the top dog in the Lakers’ pecking order.
“Luka don’t need to bend his game. … He’s our 27-year-old franchise [player] for this ball club,” James said. “He don’t need to bend his game. It’s up to us to bend our game around him and figure it out.”
The 21-time All-Star continued to rave about Dončić’s offensive mastery, underscoring his willingness to adapt around him in Year 23.
“We just try to be dynamic and work off of him,” James explained. “We know he’s an unbelievable pick-and-roll player, unbelievable shot-maker, commands the defense, four eyes, sometimes six eyes on him.
“So, it’s up to us to put ourselves in the right position. So, it’s not a problem for me. It’s not an issue for me.”
LeBron James addresses concerns about his fit with Luka Dončić. https://t.co/F10auHOHCL
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) January 7, 2026
Tuesday’s contest marked the second time in the last three games that James and Dončić each crossed the 30-point mark, with the latter having scored 30-plus points in five consecutive appearances.
LA (23-11) will look to extend its winning streak to four games during Wednesday’s road matchup against the San Antonio Spurs (25-11) in a marquee showdown between two of the Western Conference’s top three seeds.
