Luka Doncic became just the second player in NBA history to open a season with three straight 40-point games, dropping 44 in Friday’s 117-112 win over the Grizzlies.
— After Austin Reaves carried the Lakers as their solo star all week, Luka Doncic returned Friday to take the baton back with another 40-point performance in Los Angeles’ 117-112 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Doncic, who missed the previous three games with a sprained finger on his left hand and a lower left leg contusion that he thought might keep him out until at least Sunday, flew to Memphis separately to join the team Thursday and went on to pour in a game-high 44 points.
It was Doncic’s third straight 40-point game after scoring 43 on opening night against Golden State followed by 49 against Minnesota, becoming the only player in NBA history other than Wilt Chamberlain to top the 40-point plateau in three straight games to begin his season. (Chamberlain did it twice — seven straight games in 1962-63 and five straight in 1961-62).
«I mean, I feel great», Doncic said when asked about being included in such rare company with the basketball legend. «But obviously, if we get a win, I feel even better. So that’s the whole point, trying to help the team to win. And sometimes it’s going to be scoring, sometimes other things.»
He did other things, too, leading L.A. with 12 rebounds and six assists as the Lakers fought back from a 15-point second-half deficit to win their first NBA Cup group play game, but it was the scoring that was most impressive — especially because of the other luminaries he joined.
