Luka Doncic on Jackson Hayes standing his back against Chris Dunn
Things went sour in between Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers in the final minutes of the fourth quarter of the NBA Cup on Tuesday after Chris Dunn swung at Luka Dončić.
Fans at Cripto.com Arena erupted after Dunn’s action with 3:33 left in the final. Dončić did not react to what happened, but Jackson Hayes shoved Dunnwho then pushed back. In the end, cooler heads prevailed and the Lakers ran away with the win, 135-118.
After the game, Doncic was asked about Hayes defend him during an argument. The five-time All-Star praised the camaraderie of the Lakers.
“Everybody’s got each other’s back, you know, so I appreciate him. I’ll pay his fine, sure, but it shows what kind of team we are,” the do-it-all guard said in a video posted by the Lakers Empire on X.
Doncic had another masterful performance with a game-high 43 points, including 32 in the first half. He added nine rebounds, 13 assists, one steal and one block.
Hayes had eight points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. He played tough minutes as the Purple and Gold were without Deandre Ayton with a knee contusion.
The Lakers won their fifth straight and improved to 13-4. They lead the West Group B in the NBA Cup with a record of 3-0.
Fans have noticed an improvement in the Lakers’ chemistry in Doncic’s first full season with the team. Coach JJ Redick has repeatedly emphasized the importance of supporting each other, and Hayes definitely embodied that against the Clippers.
2025-11-26 07:22:00
