The Los Angeles Lakers crushed Jordi Fernandez’s Brooklyn Nets thanks to 24 points from Luka Doncic and 25 points and a display of dunks and alley-oops from LeBron James, who is embroiled in rumors of divorce with the Lakers. He had a feast of popularity in his last visit to New York of the regular season.
Luka Doncic has a strong opinion about Bad Bunny performing at the Super Bowl
The Lakers’ victory was led by their two great stars. LeBron James contributed 25 points (the night’s top scorer), three rebounds and seven assists, while Luka Doncic contributed 24 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Luka Doncic is the best player of the month for January in the Western Conference
Doncic was named the best player of the month for January in the Western Conference. Doncic, who celebrated his first anniversary as a Lakers player this week, averaged 34 points, 7.2 rebounds and 9.1 assists in the first month of 2026.
Brooklyn ovation for LeBron’s son: Mockery or recognition for Bronny?
One of the highlights of the game was the final minutes played by Bronny James, LeBron’s son, who received the ovation of the night, even greater than the one received by his father, after a spectacular ‘alley-oop’
“To have my wife sitting courtside and to be able to have that moment for our son was great. There’s always been love and respect for the Brooklyn fans every time I come here, and for them to show that to my son and his development and the way he continues to develop his game was a proud moment that we’ll never forget. That was really cool,” LeBron said after the game.
Jordi Fernandez could not stop the LeBron and Doncic whirlwind in Brooklyn
The Los Angeles team had the game on track after the first quarter, in which they were already crushing the Nets with a 23-45 lead. The Lakers had a very precise start to the game, hitting 15 of their 18 field goal attempts (83%), including four of six from three-point range.
With the first quarter we had, it’s very difficult to be in the game when you’re down by more than 20 points
Before the first 12 minutes of the game were over, Catalan Jordi Fernandez was pacing up and down the technical area, looking from side to side for solutions to turn the game around.
The stands at the Barclays Center were filled with purple and gold dots showing the thousands of fans wearing the jersey of LeBron James, a living legend of basketball and sport.
The guys were better at the end of the second quarter and in the second half, and I think it’s a respectable effort
LeBron, who already had an NBA ring before the Nets moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn in late 2012, was the center of attention. Every dunk, steal, rebound or assist by the Lakers’ No. 23 was celebrated by the crowd as if it were a game-winning three-pointer in the last second.
The responsibility for the team not playing well or not getting good results is mine, no more
The 41-year-old, with an uncertain future for next season, was selected as one of the reserves for the Western Conference team in the All-Star Game on February 15 in Los Angeles.
Match decided at half-time
With the game almost settled before the break with a 40-69 score in favor of the Los Angeles team, the Nets took the third quarter by 34-31, showing that the Lakers lowered their standards and the game considerably reduced the competitive tension, with JJ Redick rotating his key players.
The game marked the return of Austin Reaves to the court after a left calf injury that kept him out for more than a month, since December 25. He played 21 minutes and scored 15 points.
Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with a double-double (21 points and 10 rebounds) and Day’Ron Shape contributed another double-double, with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
The Lakers (30-19), who were coming off a 112-100 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, wrapped up an eight-game road trip with a positive 5-3 record.
Jordi Fernandez on his poor start to the year with the Nets: “It’s my responsibility, period”
Spanish coach Jordi Fernandez was self-critical about the poor start to 2026 for his Brooklyn Nets, who have 16 losses and only three wins so far this year, something in which he has the “responsibility for not having good results.”
“The responsibility for the team not playing well or not getting good results is mine, no more. And our job is to make the players compete and improve. I think outside of here there is not much more,” said the coach, asked by EFE, after the defeat in Brooklyn against the Lakers by 109-125.
“With the first quarter we had, it’s very difficult to be in the game when you’re down by more than 20 points. The guys were better at the end of the second quarter and in the second half, and I think it’s a respectable effort,” said the Catalan coach.
Regarding facing superstars such as LeBron James or Luka Doncic, who led the Lakers with 25 and 24 points respectively, Fernandez said that “it’s an honor” and pointed out that “in the NBA there are very good players every game”.
Jordi Fernandez’s team remains third from bottom in the East, increasingly far from the postseason places.
