Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves Are Making History - And They're Just Getting Started
On a night when LeBron James sat out, the Lakers didn’t miss a beat - and that’s saying something. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves turned up the heat in a 133-121 win over the Pelicans, combining for 67 points and etching their names into NBA history in the process.
Doncic dropped 34 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out seven assists in a performance that’s starting to feel routine for the 26-year-old superstar. Reaves, meanwhile, poured in 33 of his own, along with five boards and eight assists, continuing a breakout campaign that’s quickly becoming one of the league’s best storylines.
But this wasn’t just another big night for a pair of hot hands - this was historic. Doncic and Reaves became just the fourth duo in the last 50 years to each score 30-plus points in three consecutive games.
Let that sink in. In a league filled with elite scorers and dynamic duos, only three other pairs have pulled that off in half a century.
The company they now keep? Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard during their time in Milwaukee, Monta Ellis and Corey Maggette with the Warriors back in 2010, and Spurs legends George Gervin and Mike Mitchell in 1984. That’s a rare list - and Doncic and Reaves are earning their place on it with every game.
Doncic has been on a tear, and Sunday was just the latest chapter. He scored 35 against his former team, the Mavericks, on Friday.
Before that, he lit up the Clippers for 43 on November 25. That’s three straight 30-point games - all while orchestrating the Lakers’ offense like a conductor with a symphony.
And here’s the kicker: his personal scoring streak goes even further back. Doncic has now scored 30 or more in seven straight games, with two of those performances hitting the 40-point mark.
This isn’t just a hot streak - it’s the kind of sustained dominance that builds MVP cases. Doncic is averaging 35.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game, shooting 47.1% from the field. That’s not just elite - that’s video game numbers.
And then there’s Reaves, who’s quickly shedding the “undrafted” label and stepping into the spotlight as a legitimate star. His averages - 28.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists - are all tracking toward career highs, and he’s doing it with a level of consistency that’s turning heads around the league.
Half of Reaves’ 30-point games this season have come during this recent stretch. He’s got six in total, including a 51-point explosion in Sacramento on October 26, followed by a 41-point gem the very next night against Portland. Whether LeBron is on the floor or not, Reaves has become the Lakers’ go-to second option behind Doncic - and he’s thriving in the role.
What we’re seeing from Doncic and Reaves isn’t just a temporary spark. It’s the formation of one of the most potent one-two punches in the NBA right now.
They’re not just filling in the gaps - they’re setting the pace. And if this is what they look like in December, the rest of the league better start paying attention.
The Lakers might be building something special - and it’s not just about LeBron anymore.