Why Lakers’ Luka Doncic gave Cameron Carr the game ball after win over Hawks

Why Lakers’ Luka Doncic gave Cameron Carr the game ball after win over Hawks appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here . On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers won their 10th game of the season in 12 tries after grabbing a 124-114 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on the second night of a back-to-back. Of course, it was Luka Doncic who led the way once again. Fresh off a rest day on Sunday, Doncic lit up the Hawks to the tune of 32 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists — continuing his torrid start to the 2026-27 campaign. But it wasn’t Doncic who brought home the game ball. Not even Sandro Mamukelashvili, who put up 23 points and eight boards off the bench, took the ball home with him, nor did Walker Kessler or Collin Sexton. It was Lakers guard Cameron Carr who did so, with Doncic actually giving him the game ball to celebrate a major accomplishment — scoring his first career points in the NBA. “You always want to remember your first bucket, you know. And you want to get that ball so it was, you know, kind of important for me to grab it. He was good, he was very good. It’s not easy to just get in the game and play the game so he was very good. He’s just got to keep building on it,” Doncic said after the game, via Spectrum SportsNet on X. Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial) Prior to tonight’s ballgame, Carr has played in a grand total of three minutes in the NBA, failing to score a single point and missing his only field-goal attempt. The Lakers have been bringing the rookie along slowly after he suffered an injury in preseason, and with the absence of Austin Reaves and Quentin Grimes against the Hawks, Carr earned the opportunity to suit up for more than just one garbage-time minute. The Lakers are high on Carr’s potential, but it looks like he will be spending his rookie season as more of a spectator, especially amid the team’s hot start. But if, knock on wood, LA faces some injury problems, Carr should remain ready in case head coach JJ Redick calls upon his number. Related: Luka Doncic rubs it in Hawks fans’ faces that he’s their one that got away Related: Sandro Mamukelashvili draws Lakers HC JJ Redick praise after ‘best game as a Laker’