LA Lakers v Utah Jazz: Luka Doncic scores 14 points in NBA debut for new team alongside LeBron James

Luka Doncic scored 14 points from limited playing time during his debut with the Lakers, joining their starting line-up alongside LeBron James and immediately getting into the flow during Los Angeles’ 132-113 victory over the Utah Jazz.

James had 24 points, seven rebounds and eight assists and Austin Reaves scored 22 as the Lakers got their sixth straight win on Monday night (Tuesday AEDT).

Doncic, acquired in a shocking trade from the Dallas Mavericks on February 2, played for the first time since sustaining a calf strain on Christmas.

He was limited to just under 24 minutes as a precaution and was able to sit out the fourth quarter with his new team in complete control, but still had several standout moments to help the surging Lakers get their 12th victory in 14 games.

Buoyed by their new superstar, Los Angeles had seven players reach double figures, shot a blistering 54.3 per cent from the floor and led by as many as 34.

Doncic got multiple standing ovations from a Los Angeles crowd wearing thousands of gold T-shirts with his name and No. 77.

He scored 11 points while the Lakers streaked out to a 25-point halftime lead, and he sat down for good with 3:07 left in the third quarter with the Lakers far ahead in their sixth consecutive victory.

The Slovenian superstar’s first bucket was a three-pointer in the opening minutes on his second shot for the Lakers.

Doncic finished with five rebounds and four assists.

The game was Doncic’s first since he strained his left calf on Christmas with the Mavericks, who shocked the sports world by trading their 25-year-old centrepiece and NBA scoring champion.

After a full week to settle in and to return to full strength, Doncic joined James, Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes as starters for the Lakers, who had won 11 of 13 even before adding a five-time All-NBA selection to their line-up.

Doncic’s first touch was an alley-oop assist to Hayes, and he hit his three-pointer moments later. He was serenaded with “Luka! Luka!” chants at the first dead ball, and several times thereafter.

In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points in three quarters as the Thunder routed the New Orleans Pelicans 120-89.

Oklahoma City hit a franchise-record 27 three-pointers, despite no individual making more than four. Eleven players drained at least one for a team that made 49 per cent of their 55 three-point tries.

Aaron Wiggins scored 24 points and Jalen Williams added 16 for the Thunder, who won their sixth straight game.

Oklahoma City improved to an NBA-best 43-9, while the Pelicans dropped to a Western Conference-worst 12-41.

In Orlando, Australian Dyson Daniels was one of five Atlanta players to score double figures as the travelling Hawks beat the Magic 112-106.

The in-form Daniels had 10 points, six rebounds and five assists for Atlanta.

Trae Young scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and Caris LeVert had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Hawks (26-28).

Franz Wagner led Orlando (26-29) with 35 points.

In Cleveland, Evan Mobley scored 28 points and fellow All-Star Donovan Mitchell added 23 as the Cavaliers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-107.

The East-leading Cavs (43-10) scored the game’s first 16 points as they improved to 25-4 at home.

All-Star Anthony Edwards scored 44 to lead the way for Minnesota (30-24).

In Dallas, DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 42 points, including a baseline floater with two seconds left in overtime, as the Sacramento Kings beat the depleted Mavericks 129-128.

The Mavericks lost centre Daniel Gafford to a sprained right knee. Dallas were already playing without power forwards Anthony Davis and P.J. Washington and centres Dereck Lively II and Dwight Powell, all because of injuries.

Kyrie Irving scored 30 points for the Mavericks.

Australian Dante Exum played 19 minutes for Dallas, contributing two rebounds, six assists and five points.

In other results, the Boston Celtics rolled past the Miami Heat 103-85, the San Antonio Spurs held off the Washington Wizards 131-121, the Brooklyn Nets beat the Charlotte Hornets 97-89, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 125-111, and the Denver Nuggets thrashed the Portland Trail Blazers 146-117 for their seventh straight win.