When LeBron James was ruled out for the start of the Los Angeles Lakers’ season, everyone knew that would mean a full plate for Luka Dončić. So far, the Slovenian star is obliging.
In the Lakers’ second game of the season, Dončić posted 49 points on 14-of-23 shooting, 11 rebounds and 8 assists in a 128-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The win improves the Lakers’ record to 1-1.
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It was nearly Dončić’s eighth career 50-point game, which seemed inevitable once he reached 48 points and remained in a blowout with more than five minutes left. However, he then missed his next two shots and split a pair of free throws, leaving him with 49 when head coach JJ Redick finally pulled him.
Dončić had to settle for merely being the fourth player in NBA history to open the season with back-to-back 40-point games, joining Anthony Davis, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Dončić posted 43 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists in the Lakers’ season-opening loss to the Golden State Warriors.
He’s also the first player in NBA history to clear 40 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in each of his first two games.
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Unlike in that opener, the Lakers gave Dončić some help. Austin Reaves posted 25 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds, while Rui Hachimura had 23 points. Deandre Ayton bounced back from a rough Lakers debut with 15 points and eight rebounds. It’s unclear when James will return from his bout with sciatica, but it looks like these Lakers will have to make do until at least mid-November.
Meanwhile, in a related story, Davis and the Dallas Mavericks fell to 0-2 with a 117-107 loss to the Washington Wizards.