Lakers Star Luka Doncic Joins NBA Legends With Historic 52-Point Game vs. Jazz

Luka Doncic scored 52 points on Sunday night to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 132-123 victory over the Utah Jazz, setting a new franchise scoring record in the process. The Slovenian guard finished the contest with 10 assists and either seven or eight rebounds, depending on the reporting, while shooting 17 of 30 from the field. His performance included eight three-pointers, marking the first time a player has reached the 50-point mark in the current NBA season. The win extended the Lakers' unbeaten start to three games, capping a dramatic comeback after trailing by as many as 18 points during the first half. The game began poorly for the visitors, who fell behind 29-47 after the first quarter. The Jazz held a significant advantage through much of the second period, building a lead of 18 points. However, the Lakers intensified their effort in the second half, outscoring Utah 45-24 to secure the win. The turning point occurred in the final seconds of the first half, when Doncic hit a three-pointer to give the Lakers their first lead of the game, 74-71. Later in the fourth quarter, after the Jazz threatened to regain control, Doncic sank consecutive threes to spark a 14-5 run. This sequence put the Lakers ahead 127-121 with 102 seconds remaining. Austin Reaves sealed the result with an additional three-pointer late in the game. Doncic’s statistical output placed him in rare historical company within the Lakers organization. According to ESPN Insights, only Elgin Baylor and Jerry West had previously recorded a game with at least 50 points and 10 assists in franchise history. Baylor accomplished this feat twice during his career. Additionally, this was Doncic’s third 50-point game since joining the Lakers approximately eighteen months ago. In contrast, Shaquille O'Neal recorded only two such performances during his eight-year tenure with the team. Career-wise, this was Doncic’s tenth 50-point game, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the fewest seasons required to reach that milestone among players with ten or more such games. Abdul-Jabbar took 20 seasons to achieve the same total, whereas Doncic reached it in eight. He currently sits tenth on the all-time list for 50-point games, with Allen Iverson holding 11 and Wilt Chamberlain leading with 138. Austin Reaves provided substantial support, finishing with 29 points, which included four three-pointers. The duo combined for high efficiency from the free-throw line, hitting 21 of their 24 attempts together. Other contributors for Los Angeles included Colin Sexton, who added 13 points off the bench. Walker Kessler, who transferred from Utah to Los Angeles during the summer, played his first game back in Salt Lake City against his former team. He contributed just two points in a quiet performance. On the Jazz side, Lauri Markkanen led the scoring with 28 points. Keyonte George recorded a near triple-double with 24 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 20 points, while Ace Bailey finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Post-game comments from Doncic focused on the team's resilience and execution in the closing minutes. He described sinking crucial three-pointers in tight situations as one of the best feelings in basketball. He noted that the team played the style of basketball they know how to play but acknowledged they needed to learn from their mistakes, specifically criticizing the slow start. "We should not start games the way we did today," he said. He also praised the team chemistry, stating that the group feels connected and that all newcomers have been welcomed well. The Lakers enter this stretch of the schedule having defeated the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers in their previous two contests. They remain undefeated at 3-0. Their next opponent is the Portland Trail Blazers, whom they will host on Tuesday, October 27, at 11 p.m. Eastern Time. Upcoming challenges include matchups against Western Conference contenders such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, LeBron James, who left the Lakers for the Philadelphia 76ers in the offseason, was also 3-0 entering Sunday, though he faced a difficult test at home against the Detroit Pistons.