Luka Doncic described his Los Angeles Lakers debut as a “special moment” after he helped his new team beat the visiting Utah Jazz 132-113.
The five-time NBA All-Star recovered from a calf injury to play for the Lakers for the first time since a spectacular trade which involved him arriving from the Dallas Mavericks and Anthony Davis going the other way.
Doncic got himself on the board with an early three-pointer, which brought loud cheers from the home crowd, and went on to score 14 points as he registered five rebounds and four assists during his 24 minutes on court.
The Slovenian, 25, left the court in the first quarter for treatment to his left calf and, while he returned to play, he left the game late in the third quarter with the Lakers leading 93-69.
“I heard a lot of noise when I was introduced – it was a special moment,” said Doncic after the game.
“The way they received me, it was amazing to see.
“I was a little bit nervous before the game but once I stepped on to the court it was fun. Just being out there again felt amazing.”
Lakers star LeBron James combined well with Doncic and scored a game-high 24 points, registering eight assists and seven rebounds.
The win puts the Lakers fourth in the Western Conference, with the Jazz one place off the bottom in 14th.
Elsewhere, Nikola Jokic notched up 40 points, along with eight assists and seven rebounds, as he helped the Denver Nuggets thrash the Portland Trail Blazers 146-117.
Anthony Edwards scored 44 points for the Minnesota Timberwolves but it was in a losing cause, with his side beaten 128-107 by Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland Cavaliers.
Stephen Curry scored a season-high 38 points for the Golden State Warriors as they won 125-111 at the Milwaukee Bucks.
Curry made six three-pointers, while Jimmy Butler, playing his second game for the Warriors following his trade from the Miami Heat, added 20 points.
