Luka Doncic continues to add historic milestones to his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and his latest performance placed him alongside some of the greatest players in franchise history.
The Slovenian superstar scored 44 points in just three quarters Friday night, leading the Lakers to a 128-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers while making history in the process. With the performance, Doncic became only the fourth player in franchise history to record at least 10 games of 40 or more points in a single season, joining legends Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West.
Doncic delivered the scoring outburst despite the absence of LeBron James, who sat out the game to rest several minor injuries during his 23rd NBA season. With the Lakers missing their veteran leader, Doncic took control of the offense immediately and never slowed down.
Doncic is a scoring machine
He scored 22 points in the opening quarter alone, marking the fifth time this season he has surpassed the 20-point mark in the first period. That total is the most such opening quarters by any NBA player in a season in at least the last 30 years. By halftime, Doncic had already set the tone for the game, and he continued the scoring surge in the third quarter.
Doncic finished the night shooting 14-for-25 from the field and knocked down seven three-pointers while adding nine rebounds. His final triple came late in the third quarter when he banked in a deep shot to cap a 15-point period, bringing his total to 44 points before head coach Darvin Ham elected to rest him for the entire fourth quarter.
Even with their star guard on the bench, the Lakers maintained control of the game. The team entered the fourth quarter with a 19-point advantage and extended the lead further without Doncic on the floor, ensuring he wouldn’t need to chase what would have been the eighth 50-point game of his career. The performance also moved Doncic into the league lead for most 40-point games this season, surpassing Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lakers teammates help to get the win
Several Lakers contributed alongside Doncic. Austin Reaves scored 19 points before fouling out with 4:58 remaining, marking only the second disqualification of his career. Luke Kennard added 15 points and seven rebounds, while Marcus Smart finished with 11 points on his 32nd birthday. The Lakers were also without starting center Deandre Ayton due to a knee injury, but their offense proved more than capable of compensating.
Indiana struggled to keep pace throughout the night. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 26 points, while Andrew Nembhard added 17. The Pacers‘ shooting woes were evident early, as they went just 2-for-19 from three-point range in the first half. The loss extended Indiana’s difficult stretch since the All-Star break, with the Pacers now dropping eight consecutive games, including five defeats by double digits.
For the Lakers, the victory helped them bounce back from a road loss to the Denver Nuggets the previous night and improved their recent form. Los Angeles has now won four of its last five games, and Doncic‘s historic scoring run is a major reason why. Joining Bryant, Baylor and West on one of the franchise’s most exclusive scoring lists underscores just how dominant Doncic has been this season.
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