Los Angeles Lakers guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves continued their collective dominance on Sunday, combining for 67 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists in their team’s 133-121 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The game, which extended the Lakers’ win streak to seven, marked the third consecutive outing when both stars scored at least 30 points. According to the NBA, they are the fourth duo in 50 years to achieve the feat, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks, 2023) Monta Ellis and Corey Maggette (Golden State Warriors, 2010) and George Gervin and Mike Mitchell (San Antonio Spurs, 1984).
Lakers Fans Coin Nickname
Amid their collective brilliance, Lakers fans on social media pondered over an apt nickname that best describes the duo of Doncic and Reaves [H/T Bleacher Report].
Some of the nicknames fans came up with include the following:
The Showtime Snipers
The Lake Bros
Hollywood Handlers
Blanc de Blanc
The Don and his Underboss
White Mambas
X’s AI assistant, Grok, narrowed down the various nicknames and rated its three best.
1. Magic & The Marksman (Luka’s flair + Reaves’ AR-15 vibe)
2. Dončić Dynamite (explosive scoring combo)
3. Slovenian Slinger & Hillbilly Hero (nod to origins)
Best Backcourt in NBA?
The duo is tallying a league-best 63.6 points per game this season, which is 10.5 points more than the famed Denver Nuggets duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Many analysts and fans believe they have firmly established themselves as the best backcourt in the NBA — a claim that’s hard to argue.
After Sunday’s win, Doncic was asked about his chemistry with Reaves.
“I don’t know what made it special, but I think we’re just good basketball players,” he said of playing alongside Reaves, via Broderick Turner of LA Times.
Reaves, who is averaging career-highs across the board, is blessed to share the court with the Slovenian.
“He draws a lot of attention and then I’m able to play advantage basketball, basically, on the backside of that,” Reaves said of playing with Doncic, via LakersNation.
“[With] the gravity that he has on the court, it’s impossible to guard him any certain way because of his ability to pass the ball, his unselfishness and his shot-making ability. Once you blitz him, then you have ‘advantage basketball.’ We like our chances. I thought we got a lot of really good looks that we didn’t make tonight and we still scored 130. I think this offense can go to another level.”
Besides their sizzling on-court performances, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have also given Lakers fans a lot of off-court banter. During Sunday’s contest, for example, Reaves claimed he intentionally missed a late free throw so Doncic would finish with more points than him.
“You know, I gotta keep Luka’s confidence high. I don’t need to outscore him two nights in a row,” Reaves said of the missed free throw.
Doncic had a hilarious response.
“I appreciate him. I’m gonna go talk to him now and say thank you.”
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