Luka Doncic Scores 49 as Lakers Defeat Timberwolves 128–110/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Luka Doncic scored 49 points, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128–110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He became just the fourth player in NBA history to start a season with consecutive 40-point games. The Lakers dominated offensively despite LeBron James being sidelined with sciatica.
Luka Doncic delivered another electric performance Friday night, scoring 49 points and leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128–110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The game marked a strong bounce-back for the Lakers after their opening night loss to Golden State and continued Doncic’s blazing start in a new uniform.
Following a 43-point debut, Doncic became just the fourth player in NBA history to start a season with consecutive 40-point games, joining legends Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Anthony Davis. Fittingly, Davis was the player the Lakers traded to acquire Doncic last winter.
Against Minnesota, Doncic was nearly unstoppable. He shot 14-of-23 from the field, hit five three-pointers, and sank 16 of his 19 free throws. He narrowly missed what would have been his eighth career 50-point game, falling just short after missing his final two shots and a late free throw.
Doncic added 11 rebounds and eight assists, continuing to showcase his well-rounded game. He even shook off early adversity, after tweaking his groin in the previous game and injuring his left hand early in the first quarter on Friday. Despite visible discomfort, he erupted for 23 points in the opening 12 minutes alone.
That first-quarter outburst tied Kobe Bryant and Kyle Kuzma for the most points in a first quarter by a Laker in the past 30 years.
With LeBron James sidelined due to sciatica, the Lakers leaned heavily on their new star—and he delivered. James watched from the bench in support, proudly wearing an Arizona Wildcats jersey to honor his son, Bryce.
Austin Reaves stepped up in the backcourt with 25 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds, providing steady play alongside Doncic. Rui Hachimura added 23 points, while Deandre Ayton contributed 15 in a balanced team effort.
Even without LeBron, the Lakers pushed the pace and punished Minnesota’s defense in transition and half-court sets.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards scored 31 points and Julius Randle added 26, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lakers’ explosive offense. The Timberwolves, who defeated the Lakers in last season’s first-round playoff series, couldn’t match LA’s scoring rhythm this time.
The Timberwolves fell behind by 20 early in the fourth quarter, and their defense had few answers for the Lakers’ ball movement and floor spacing.
Rookie Bronny James made his long-anticipated debut late in the fourth quarter, checking in for the final 3:14 of regulation. The 20-year-old received loud cheers from the Crypto.com Arena crowd as he took the court in his first regular season NBA appearance.
While he didn’t register in the box score, his presence symbolized the next generation in the Lakers franchise lineage, drawing attention from both fans and media.
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