Watch Lakers’ Luka Doncic power through Nikola Jokic for tough and-1

Luka Doncic reminded everyone why he remains one of the NBA's most difficult players to contain . He powered through Nikola Jokic for a tough and-1 in the Los Angeles Lakers ' preseason finale against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. During the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena, Doncic attacked downhill and drove directly into the chest of the three-time MVP. Despite absorbing heavy contact from Denver's imposing center, the Lakers superstar maintained his balance, flipped a contested shot off the glass, and drew the foul to complete an emphatic three-point play .

The sequence offered a glimpse of Doncic's physical readiness heading into the 2026–27 campaign, even as Los Angeles fell 121-106. Doncic finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and three three-pointers in 19 minutes. He shot 4-of-8 from the field. Jokic countered with 17 points, six rebounds, and eight assists on 7-of-8 shooting. Meanwhile, Jamal Murray paced Denver with 21 points. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 19 points. With the exhibition schedule complete, Los Angeles now turns its attention to Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Golden State Warriors.

Doncic has looked sharp throughout the 2026 preseason. He continues to be the centerpiece of head coach JJ Redick's offense while the Lakers carefully managed his minutes. Doncic opened the exhibition slate with 21 points against Sacramento before adding 23 in the rematch. He then capped his preparation with Friday's efficient performance against Denver. More importantly, his ability to create scoring opportunities through contact reinforced the physical edge that makes him such a difficult matchup. With Reaves providing another scoring option and Walker Kessler strengthening the interior, Doncic and the Lakers have plenty of reasons for optimism.