The Los Angeles Lakers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves and secured a dominant 128-110 victory, serving as revenge for last NBA season’s playoff loss. Luka Doncic stole the show, delivering a historic performance that placed him alongside Michael Jordan.
The 26-year-old superstar scored 49 points (after posting 43 in Tuesday’s opener), becoming the first player in Lakers history to start a season with back-to-back 40-point games.
“I was attacking the paint in the first half. But when the second half started, we got the ball rolling around, and the ball had energy,” Doncic said in a postgame interview.
It was another masterclass from Luka, who carried the Lakers on both ends of the floor against the Timberwolves and set the tone for what could be a career-defining season in Los Angeles. His stat line after 34 minutes read 49 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists on 60.9% shooting. More importantly, the Lakers overcame an 18-point deficit to secure the win against the team that eliminated them in the playoffs last year.
Doncic joins elite company
Doncic also entered elite company, becoming just the fourth player in NBA history to start a season with consecutive 40-point games, joining Anthony Davis, Michael Jordan, and Wilt Chamberlain.
Reflecting on his performance, Luka Doncic added, “It’s a little bit easier for me, just moving around. Feeling better overall. More steadiness and just feeling better.”
“I think we have great chemistry,” Doncic added. “In the second game, we showed we can do it against Minnesota, which is an amazing team. That shows we can do it.”
For now, Doncic continues to carry the Lakers, proving he’s more than capable. With a historic start for their superstar and a strengthened roster, the sky’s the limit for the Lakers—if they can stay healthy long enough to see it through.