Luka Doncic keeps finding new ways to overwhelm teams, and Sunday night was another reminder of just how much damage he can do when the Lakers turn him loose.
Los Angeles outlasted the Toronto Raptors 131-125 at Crypto.com Arena, and Doncic was the engine the whole way. He finished with 45 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals, stuffing the box score in a way that few players ever do. He shot 12-of-23 from the floor and buried 8-of-12 from beyond the arc.
The Lakers leaned on him heavily with coach JJ Redick giving him the keys, and Doncic answered with the kind of all-around performance that has become his calling card. He also shrugged off a brief scuffle with Scottie Barnes and kept rolling.
Austin Reaves added 19 points, three rebounds and four assists for Los Angeles. Walker Kessler chipped in 16 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks, while Collin Sexton provided 14 points, three rebounds and three assists off the bench.
The win pushed the Lakers to 5-2 overall and 3-1 at home. Toronto dropped to 3-3.
Doncic’s night also came with a piece of history. It was his 20th 40-point game with the Lakers, and according to the Associated Press’ Greg Beacham, he reached a rare mark that the franchise has not seen from anyone else in decades.
“Doncic produced at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five steals for the second time with the Lakers, who haven't had another player hit all of those marks in a game since the 1982-83 season,” wrote Beacham.
The six-time All-NBA selection and reigning scoring champion is now averaging a league-best 37.7 points, along with 8.2 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.8 steals. He’s shooting 48.2% from the field and 43.2% from three, though the turnovers remain part of the package at 5.5 per game.
The Lakers won’t get much breathing room before their next test, with the Miami Heat coming to town Monday.
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Luka Doncic Is Giving Lakers Fans A New Debate After Another Heavy Lift
Luka Doncic kept dragging the Lakers through another tight night, and the 131-125 win over Toronto only added to the sense that every game seems to come with a fresh discussion about how much he is carrying. He piled up 45 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, giving Los Angeles the kind of all-around production that can cover for uneven stretches elsewhere in the rotation.
Walker Kessler was one of the few other steady presences, finishing with 16 points and 15 rebounds while also making his mark on the defensive end. He praised Doncics defensive intelligence, which is part of what makes these nights so interesting for the Lakers: the star is doing so much on one end that his value keeps expanding beyond the box score, even as the rest of the roster continues to have its share of mixed results. [Read more 🡒]
Luka Doncic Had Extra Fire In A Huge Lakers Bounce-Back Win
Luka Doncic gave the Lakers exactly the kind of response they needed in a 131-125 bounce-back win over the Raptors, piling up 45 points with 15 rebounds, six assists, five steals and a block. He did it with the kind of efficiency that has become his calling card, hitting 12 of 23 shots, knocking down eight of 12 from deep and going a perfect 13 for 13 at the line.
It was the 71st 40-point game of Doncics career, another reminder of how quickly he can take over a night when the Lakers need a jolt. And while the box score already told a big story, the game carried an extra edge around one tense sequence that helped fuel the emotion behind his latest standout performance. [Read more 🡒]
Luka Doncics Hot Streak Is Exposing A Bigger Lakers Problem
Luka Doncic has been carrying the Lakers offense through a recent stretch that has only sharpened the conversation around how much help he is getting. He has turned in several huge scoring nights lately, including a season-high 52 points against the Utah Jazz, and the Lakers have still gone just 1-2 over their last three games.
The bigger issue is starting to look familiar: beyond Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have struggled to find reliable offensive support on a night-to-night basis. When Doncic is scoring at that level, the expectation is that the rest of the roster can at least help turn those performances into wins, but the recent results suggest that balance is still missing. [Read more 🡒]