In the current NBA, only a handful of players are capable of blowing up a game on their own by imposing their talent. Among them are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic… and Luka Doncic.
No one doubts that the former Mavericks player is an absolutely unstoppable player when he is in the mood. And he proved it again in the Lakers’ win over the Pelicans (133-121), the seventh in a row for the Los Angeles team.
The Slovenian began his exhibition when many spectators were still flitting around the aisles of the crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles with their popcorn and soft drinks looking for their seats. Doncic knocked out the Pelicans with a huge first quarter: 20 points (3/4 t2, 3/5 t3 and 5/5 tl), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, one steal and one block.
Blink and you’ll miss it
It was a brutal explosion of talent in record time. A premature breakthrough that is not new for him. In fact, it was the 13th time in his NBA career that he has scored 20 or more points in a first quarter, and he has already had 26 games scoring 20 or more points in a single quarter. That’s how the Slovenian genius is, if you blink or miss five minutes to go to the bar for a drink you can miss his magic.
Without LeBron, who rested due to discomfort in his left foot, Luka Doncic wore the Lakers’ stripes, something that is no longer news even when ‘King’ James plays. The changing of the guard is a fact. The former Real Madrid player had his sixth consecutive game with 30 or more points (41, 37, 33, 43, 35 and 34). He is the fifth playerHe is the sixth player in the Los Angeles franchise to string together such a streak. Only LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Big words
A lethal duo making history
It was just another day at the office for the Slovenian, who once again found the complicity of a great Austin Reaves, who scored 33 points (5/8 2P, 4/7 3P and 11/12 FT), 5 rebounds, 8 assists, one steal and one block in 39 minutes. Alongside them, DeAndre Ayton was increasingly powerful in the zone (22+12+4 blocks) and Rui Hachimura (14).
It was the third straight game in which Doncic and Reaves finished with 30 or more points. It was the fourth time in the last 50 years that two teammates have done so in the NBA. Only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard (Bucks, 2023), Monta Ellis and Corey Maggette (Warriors, 2010), and George Gervin and Mike Mitchell (Spurs, 1984) had done it before
Doncic thanks Reaves for his ‘gesture’
In the post-game press conference, Doncic joked about the fact that Reaves, his teammate, missed a late free throw so that he would finish as the game’s top scorer: “I appreciate his gesture, I’m going to talk to him to thank him,” he said with a laugh.
The Lakers had their victory sealed in the first quarter after Doncic’s exhibition (46-27). It was the most points scored by the Lakers in any quarter this season and tied for the fifth most in a first quarter in franchise history. At halftime they dominated 77-57, matching their highest point total after the first two acts this season.
The Pelicans, who reacted in the third quarter by sharpening their shooting (62.5% tc) to get closer on the scoreboard (100-89) and make up the final result, were led by Saddiq Bey (22+11+3), Jeremiah Fears (21+2+3) and Derik Queen (15+7+3). This was an insufficient contribution for a franchise that continues to struggle and has the worst record in the NBA (3-18).
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