Luka Doncic
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Lakers' Luka Doncic during the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles
A Thursday night in Los Angeles was a tough time for the sophomore forward, Matas Buzelis. The Chicago Bulls veteran was tasked with playing some defense on the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, Luka Doncic.
While Buzelis embraced the challenge, he struggled to contribute to any meaningful defense against the Slovenian superstar.
But there wasn’t a lack of confidence in the second-year rising star. Throughout the game, Buzelis was seen trash-talking Doncic. En route to his first 50-point game as a member of the Lakers, Doncic used one specific moment in the first half as motivation to do what he did.
“In the second quarter I kind of felt it,” Doncic told reporters on Thursday night. “Somebody decided to start talking to me. That woke me up.”
Somebody is Matas Buzelis.
Matas Buzelis Reveals The Lesson From Luka Doncic
Chicago Bulls Matas Buzelis
GettyMatas Buzelis had a tough night guarding Luka Doncic.
While Buzelis made it clear that shying away from elite competition isn’t in his DNA, he could adjust a bit. A lesson was learned. So, what’s his primary takeaway? It’s simple: “Probably not to talk to him,” Buzelis revealed.
“He started killing, obviously, I started talking to him. I just, I don’t back down from anybody. No matter who you are. I took on the challenge and didn’t execute.”
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“I don’t back down from anybody. No matter who you are.”
Matas Buzelis reflects on his back-and-forth with Luka Doncic tonight
Doncic checked in for 36 minutes on Thursday. He shot 17-31 from the field, 9-14 from three, and 8-9 from the free-throw line. The veteran guard produced 51 points, which is his highest mark as a Laker.
In addition to his big scoring night, Doncic produced 10 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and one block. He was a plus-15 on the floor for a 142-130 victory over the rebuilding Bulls.
“I was surprised—I was shocked,” Doncic said of Buzelis’ trash talking after the game. “I’m not going to say what was said. If I were to say that, I would definitely get a tech. I didn’t say nothing, that’s why I was surprised. [He talked to me first], not very nice. I was surprised.”
After the March 12 win, the Bulls and the Lakers won’t meet again this year. The Lakers swept the mini-series, initially picking up a 129-118 win on January 26.
Following the March 13 game, Doncic logged his 54th showing of the year. He’s the league leader in points per game with 32.9. The veteran is shooting 47% from the field and 36% from deep. Doncic is producing 7.9 rebounds per game, along with 8.5 assists per game.
The State Of Matas Buzelis And The Bulls
Coby White, Matas Buzelis, Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls
GettyCoby White #0, Matas Buzelis #14, and Patrick Williams #44 of the Chicago Bulls look on against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Not much has gone right for Buzelis and the Bulls this year.
The Chicago-based franchise accepted its position in the Eastern Conference turned into sellers at the trade deadline. Despite Buzelis’ desire to compete, this simply hasn’t been the Bulls’ year, even though they showed hot flashes at the beginning of the season.
In 65 games, Buzelis has averaged 15.9 points on 47% shooting from the field and 36% shooting from three. He is also coming down with 3.5 rebounds per game, while dishing out 2.1 assists per game. The 21-year-old is having an impressive second season full of improvements from a personal standpoint.
Buzelis was drafted by the Bulls 11th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. He was one of the final players to come out of the NBA G League Ignite program.
Following the 142-130 loss, the Bulls dropped to 27-39 on the year. They rank 12th in the Eastern Conference, more than six games out of the Play-In Tournament.
Next up, the Bulls will face the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, March 13.