NBA Notes: Lakers, Luka Doncic, Heat, Norman Powell, Hornets

Lakers

The Lakers got both stars on the floor Thursday night. They got everything else, too.

Luka Doncic scored 60 points in a 134-126 win over the Heat, pushing the Lakers’ streak to eight straight. As Dave McMenamin of ESPN noted, Doncic is now up to 33.4 points per game and drawing real MVP chatter.

“He’s playing as well as anyone in basketball,” coach JJ Redick said. “He’s elevated his play at a really important time for our team … He’s been fantastic, and I think he’s one of the best and should be in the MVP conversation.”

LeBron James added a triple-double and matched Robert Parish’s all-time games mark at 1,611.

“If anyone is deserving … I would say LeBron James is,” Parish told McMenamin. “He’s playing at an All-Star level still, which is equally impressive.”

Heat

Norman Powell is adjusting, even if the role looks different.

After returning from a groin strain, Powell has come off the bench in two of three games, still logging heavy minutes. As Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald wrote, the mindset hasn’t changed.

“I feel like I’m a starter,” Powell said. “But if the team feels that me coming off the bench … is going to put us in position to win games, I’m going to accept the role.”

Hornets

Coby White is settling in. The Hornets guard is averaging 23.0 points over his past three games in a sixth-man role, bringing efficiency and pace.

Coach Charles Lee, for one, sees it coming together.

“He’s gotta be himself,” Lee said, via Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. “He’s a heck of a player … I’m really proud of Coby’s growth.”