LeBron James was put in an undesirable situation by his Los Angeles Lakers co-star Luka Dončić on the final possession of Tuesday’s 110-109 home loss to the Orlando Magic.
After LA’s gut-wrenching letdown, the four-time MVP didn’t hesitate to question Dončić’s thought process in the do-or-die moment.
LeBron James Says Luka Dončić ‘Had Great Look’ Before Turning Down Game-Winning Shot
After Orlando rallied from an early double-digit deficit behind star forward Paolo Banchero’s game-high 36-point performance, Dončić and Co. faced immense pressure late.
While the teams exchanged clutch baskets in the final minutes, the Magic got the last laugh, as center Wendell Carter Jr. converted a tough putback to put his squad ahead 110-109 with 6.7 seconds remaining.
Though that left plenty of time for LA to respond on the other end, Dončić shied away from taking the last shot despite getting freed up for an open 3-pointer near the top of the arc off the inbounds.
The six-time All-Star’s hesitation afforded Orlando a chance to recover and initiate a double-team. Dončić then swung the ball to James on the wing, who was forced to take a contested fadeaway triple with time winding down, which clanked off the iron, leaving the 23-year veteran perplexed postgame.
“I thought he had a good look, and it looked like he kind of just lost his balance,” James said when asked for an explanation of the final play.
“Didn’t have a rhythm with the ball, whatever the case may be. And it kind of allowed [Orlando’s defense] to get back in front of him. And I was kind of off-balance when he gave it to me. I thought he had a great look.”
“I’m not sure. Obviously you’ll have to ask Luka what he saw. I thought he had a good look and it looked like he kind of lost his balance and didn’t have a rhythm with the ball” – LeBron James on the Lakers’ final inbounds play to Luka Doncic pic.twitter.com/ajWVYjl4sP
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 25, 2026
As for Dončić’s point of view, he contended that he was seeking a closer look with his team trailing by just a single point.
“I know I was open, but I just thought I was a little bit far,” Dončić said. “Tried to take one dribble closer. And I probably shouldn’t have picked up the ball and just tried to attack.”
Luka Doncic’s perspective on the Lakers’ final possession: “I know I was open, but I thought I was a little far.” https://t.co/2dGqYfcgch pic.twitter.com/Mqcy4vE8rG
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) February 25, 2026
Dončić finished with a team-best 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 15 assists, but shot just 8-for-24 (33.3%) in what marked one of his worst shooting nights of the season, somewhat influencing his hesitancy.
“Maybe a little bit,” Dončić acknowledged. “I think I thought it was more time. It was, what, six, seven seconds. It was enough time to get a better look, try to drive the ball, so that’s why I picked [up my dribble].”
While James and Dončić each offered their takes on LA’s botched late-game execution, the latter noted that he and his co-star had “no” communication in the play’s immediate aftermath.
“Did you and Lebron have any communication about the final play after it was over?”
Luka: “No” pic.twitter.com/XuDnfwjA2h
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) February 25, 2026
Tuesday’s defeat marked the Lakers’ second straight and fourth in their last six outings as they dropped to 34-23 (sixth in the Western Conference), ending their eight-game homestand with an uninspiring 4-4 record.
Perhaps more concerningly, the star-studded yet defensively challenged squad has repeatedly come up short against playoff-level competition, fueling concerns about its postseason outlook.
