Luka Doncic continues to put on a show in purple and gold, and Tuesday night in Denver was no exception. The Lakers leaned on their superstar once again, and Doncic delivered in a big way-dropping a 38-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist triple-double to lead L.A. past the Nuggets, 115-107, at Ball Arena.
With the win, the Lakers have now strung together back-to-back victories and sit at 26-16 on the season. They’re 14-8 on the road and holding steady in a crowded Western Conference race, even if their recent 5-5 stretch suggests there’s still work to be done. But when Doncic is in this kind of rhythm, the ceiling is sky-high.
This wasn’t just another big night for Doncic-it was a historic one. According to ESPN, his latest triple-double marked the 52nd time he’s posted at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game.
That moves him past Nikola Jokic for second all-time in that category. The only player ahead of him?
Oscar Robertson, who racked up a staggering 106 of them during his legendary career.
It’s a fitting twist that Doncic overtook Jokic, given the mutual respect and friendship between the two European stars. Both have carved out MVP-caliber careers while keeping things refreshingly light off the court.
LUKA MAGIC 🪄
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) January 21, 2026
Doncic recorded his 52nd career 30-point triple-double, passing Nikola Jokic for the 2nd most in NBA history 👏 pic.twitter.com/JHrRcmO9bS
Their laidback personalities and dry humor have made them fan favorites-and frequent pranksters-whenever their teams cross paths. You can bet there’ll be some friendly banter between them after this one.
Unfortunately, fans were robbed of a head-to-head showdown this time around. Jokic remained sidelined with a knee injury, missing his 12th straight game. Still, Doncic gave him a nod before tipoff, acknowledging how well the Nuggets have held their own without their three-time MVP.
The game itself was a tale of two halves. The Nuggets came out strong, but the Lakers found their groove after halftime.
Doncic, as usual, was the engine, but he didn’t do it alone. LeBron James flirted with a triple-double of his own-finishing with 19 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists-while Marcus Smart chipped in with 15 points and a couple of boards.
The Lakers now turn their attention to a high-profile matchup with the Clippers on Thursday. With Doncic playing at this level and the team starting to click, that crosstown battle is shaping up to be must-watch basketball.