Luka Dončić is making the extraordinary look routine. Just two days after the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a humiliating collapse against the Golden State Warriors, the Slovenian superstar responded with another breathtaking performance, erupting for 45 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals in Sunday’s 131-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
And perhaps most impressively, Dončić was almost as dominant defensively as he was offensively. The 27-year-old shot 12-of-23 from the field, including a spectacular 8-of-12 from three-point range, while converting all 13 of his free throws. He also added a block and drew three offensive fouls, showcasing an unusually complete performance on both ends of the court.
Dončić wasted absolutely no time establishing his dominance, scoring 16 points and knocking down four three-pointers in the opening quarter as Los Angeles raced to a 36-23 advantage.
By halftime, he had already accumulated 24 points and eight rebounds, putting the Lakers firmly in control. The onslaught continued after the break.
Los Angeles eventually established a commanding 26-point advantage during the third quarter, with Dončić attacking Toronto’s defense through deep three-pointers, physical drives and his trademark ability to create separation.
But what initially looked like a comfortable victory nearly turned into another nightmare. Toronto mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback, taking advantage of turnovers and defensive breakdowns to dramatically reduce the deficit.
After the Lakers emptied their bench with less than two minutes remaining, the Raptors scored 11 points in approximately 40 seconds, forcing head coach JJ Redick to bring his starters back onto the floor.
Dončić helped restore order, and Los Angeles ultimately escaped with its fifth victory of the season, improving to 5-2. Austin Reaves added 19 points, while Walker Kessler recorded 16 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 29 points, while RJ Barrett contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Dončić became the first NBA player to record at least 45 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, five steals and eight three-pointers in a single regular-season game.
It was also his fourth consecutive appearance with at least 37 points, following scoring performances of 52 against Utah, 41 against Portland and 37 against Golden State.
