The Los Angeles Lakers are riding a serious wave right now - and at the center of it all is Luka Doncic, who’s playing like a man on a mission. Sunday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Lakers came out firing, and Doncic wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s become the engine of this offense.
From the opening tip, Doncic was in full control. He dropped 20 points in the first quarter alone, hitting 6 of 9 from the field, including three from deep, and was perfect at the free-throw line (5-for-5).
Add in six rebounds and four assists in that same stretch, and you start to understand how the Lakers built a 19-point lead before the second quarter even began. It wasn’t just scoring - it was command.
This was Luka setting the tone, dictating pace, and bending the game to his will.
This kind of start has become more the norm than the exception for the Lakers lately. Coming into the matchup with New Orleans, they had won six straight, averaging a blistering 124.8 points per game while shooting 53.6% from the floor during that stretch. Just two nights earlier, they handled the Mavericks 129-119, and they’ve looked increasingly like a team that’s beginning to find its rhythm - and maybe even its identity.
And that identity starts with Doncic. He’s not just filling up the box score - though his 35.1 points and 9.4 assists per game heading into Sunday are eye-popping - he’s elevating the entire offense.
Defenses are struggling to keep up with him, and when they collapse, he’s finding open shooters or cutters with the kind of vision that makes you shake your head. His ability to control tempo and manipulate matchups is giving the Lakers a new dimension they haven’t had in years.
Of course, it helps that he’s not doing it alone. Austin Reaves has stepped up in a big way, playing with the kind of confidence and efficiency that makes him a perfect secondary option.
And then there’s LeBron James - now in his 23rd NBA season - who’s starting to look more like himself after a slow start. With LeBron rounding into form and Reaves continuing to deliver, Doncic has even more room to operate - and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the league.
Right now, the Lakers are clicking. They’re spacing the floor, sharing the ball, and playing with a sense of urgency that’s been missing in recent seasons. And while there’s still a long way to go, this version of the Lakers - led by a fully unleashed Luka Doncic - is starting to look like a real problem in the Western Conference.
If this is the level they can sustain, the rest of the league better start paying attention. Because the Lakers aren’t just winning - they’re starting to dominate.