By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic delivered a spectacular 52-point performance on Sunday to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a hard-fought 132–123 victory over the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center.
The Slovenian superstar shot 17-of-30 from the field, including eight three-pointers. He added ten assists, eight rebounds, and two steals in 38 minutes of action. This victory pushed his side to a perfect 3–0 start for the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season. It also marked their eighth win in their last nine meetings opposite Utah.
The Lakers had to fight back after trailing by as many as 18 points in the second quarter. They finally grabbed their first lead just before halftime. Doncic buried a signature stepback three-pointer with 4.1 seconds remaining in the period to get them there. When the game tightened late in the fourth quarter, Luka Magic took over once again. He capped off a decisive 14–5 run by hitting back-to-back shots from beyond the arc.
“Just be solid, be physical on the defensive end,” he mentioned in a postgame interview, describing how the team coached by JJ Redick overcame their slow start. “Then just get out and run. Play the best we know how to play. We are learning our lesson, so we cannot start games like this anymore.”
Historic milestones
Doncic became the first Laker to record at least 50 points and ten assists in a single game since Elgin Baylor accomplished the feat in 1963. He is only the third player in franchise history to do so.
The game also marked the tenth 50-point performance of his career. Since he entered the NBA in 2018, only James Harden and Damian Lillard have recorded more.
Furthermore, this was his 19th 40-point game with the storied franchise. The Ljubljana native passed LeBron James for sole possession of sixth place.
Markkanen drops 28
Complementing Doncic, Austin Reaves stepped up with a crucial 29-point contribution. Off the bench, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili provided valuable frontcourt minutes, chipping in nine points, three rebounds, and a block across nearly 21 minutes of play. Center Walker Kessler made his return to Utah after being sent to Los Angeles in a July sign-and-trade deal, finishing the night with two points and seven rebounds.
On the wrong end of the scoreboard, Finnish Lauri Markkanen led the way with a team-high 28 points on 9-of-20 shooting. He hit five three-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds in a 37-minute shift. Ukrainian reserve Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk also appeared off the bench, adding two points and three rebounds in 13 minutes.
Looking ahead, the Jazz will quickly get a chance to bounce back as they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, while the Lakers return home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
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