Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Luka Doncic is on an absolute heater this year. And it’s only been two games.
MORE: Former NBA guard takes jab at Westbrook after EuroLeague performance
The 26-year-old is clearly on a mission of vengeance during the shorthanded Lakers’ ongoing clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who obliterated Los Angeles in a five-game first-round playoff series massacre en route to their second straight Western Conference Finals appearance.
Among their rotation pieces, the Lakers are without 21-time All-NBA superstar LeBron James and backup big men Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber. Rookie forward Adou Thiero is also on the shelf, although he’s unlikely to crack head coach JJ Redick’s rotation to start the year anyway.
Doncic on the rise for Los Angeles
Doncic, who looks to be in significantly better shape than he had been during his first 33 games as a Laker last year (in the regular season and playoffs combined), has been making quick work of Minnesota’s defense so far.
After trailing the Timberwolves by as much as 11 points in the first quarter of the game, Los Angeles swung a 30-point turnaround behind Doncic’s heroics by the middle of the fourth season.
Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the 6-foot-6 Slovenian guard has now become the first Lakers player to notch consecutive 40-plus point nights at the start of a season in the history of the NBA, and the fourth player ever to achieve the feat. He joins former Lakers legends Anthony Davis and Wilt Chamberlain (although neither achieved this feat as a Laker) and invariably Hall of Fame former Chicago Bulls shooting guard Michael Jordan.
As of this writing, Doncic has scored 48 points — a new Lakers career high — on 14-of-22 shooting from the field (5-of-12 from deep) and 15-of-17 from the charity stripe. He also has pulled down 11 rebound and dished out eight dimes.
The five-time All-NBA First Team vet has propelled Los Angeles to a commanding 126-103 advantage with 4:47 remaining in regulation. this will mark the Lakers’ first win of the season after a frustrating 119-109 defeat to another veteran-laden Western Conference hopeful, the Golden State Warriors, on Tuesday. Doncic scored 43 points in that bout.
More Lakers news:
