Doncic's 53-point explosion pushes scoring average past 40 as Lakers roll — SkimNews
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- Luka Doncic scored a season-high 53 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-118 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, marking his sixth 40-point game of the season.
- Luka Doncic is averaging 40.1 points per game through nine games, the highest scoring pace since Wilt Chamberlain in 1962-63 and the best in the 3-point era.
- Luka Doncic joined Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor, and George Mikan as the only Lakers to score at least 40 points in four consecutive games, including a 62-foot buzzer-beater at halftime.
- Luka Doncic leads the NBA in scoring, shot attempts, 3-point attempts, free throw attempts, usage rate, player efficiency rating, and win shares in his first season as the Lakers' primary star post-LeBron James.
- JJ Redick called Doncic 'unlike anyone else in basketball,' praising his unique ability to control the game and carry the league's top-scoring offense.
- Micah Nori labeled Doncic the MVP 'right now, hands down' during pregame comments, underscoring the widespread recognition of his early-season dominance.
Why it matters: Doncic’s 40.1-point average through nine games sets a modern scoring pace unseen in over 60 years, raising the stakes for how defenses and the league respond to a single player shouldering such an offensive load—especially with 72 games still remaining.
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