Luka Doncic gave another performance Friday with a reminder to all why he is one of the most talented players in the game today. The Lakers star erupted with 49 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in defeating Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com arena by 128-110.
Luka Doncic ruled the game again in all aspects. The paint was more closed, therefore I attempted to handle it differently. With the win, he said, I believe I did a good job
Luka Doncic was the first Lakers player in the history to begin a season with two consecutive 40-point games with this showing. He is also the fourth NBA player in a history to do it, alongside such legends as Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Anthony Davis. His total of 92 points in the first two games are now the highest in Laker history to start a season, and the fourth highest in NBA history after Jordan with 91.
The eventful night was from highlights. Doncic saved the best of his dominant performance with a deep three-pointer that pushed the Lakers lead to 19. He sang and danced his shimmy and smiled at the applauding fans and took off to the bench with slightly more than three minutes to live.
I do not know what to do at such moments, laughed Doncic afterwards. “I just do something stupid. It struck me without any warning- I must work on that.
Head coach JJ Redick jokingly told Doncic how he came very close to hitting 50 points when he bricked a late free throw. Yes, we had attempted to obtain him 50, Redick answered with a grin. There were three opportunities, and he was again fouled and missed the same. But he was awesome tonight.”
Luka Doncic shot 14-of-23 out of the floor, 5-of-12 deep, 16-of-19 line. He was chained down at the very start, scoring 23 points in the first quarter that tied him with Kobe Bryant and Kyle Kuzma as the most in a first quarter by a Laker since 1996.
Luka Doncic had 32 points already by halftime. Los Angeles, with the assistance of the bench, managed to overcome an initial 11-point lead of the opponent and lead 68-63 in the first half and never trail behind.
His teammate, Marcus Smart, who has encountered Doncic on numerous occasions, founded praises on him. I had been on the other side of those, Smart said. Instead, it is wonderful to see him do it at close quarters. He is good at his work, and is just improving.
The sole setback of L.A. was that backup center Jaxson Hayes was out with soreness on the left knee prior to the game. However, having Doncic in such a shape, the Lakers hardly paid attention.
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