The Los Angeles Lakers continue to operate shorthanded, but that hasn’t stopped them from piling up wins. They improved to 7-2 on Wednesday night with a 118-116 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
The team was without LeBron James, who has remained sidelined all season, and Austin Reaves, who missed his second straight game.
However, Luka Doncic once again delivered a near-miraculous performance, recording 35 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds. Marcus Smart added 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while Deandre Ayton contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Doncic has appeared in five of the Lakers’ nine games and has already achieved some historic feats. On Thursday, the NBA announced that he joined the legendary Wilt Chamberlain (twice) as the only players in NBA history to score 200 or more points through the first five games of a season.
Additionally, Doncic became the first player in NBA history to record 200 or more points, 25 or more rebounds, and 25 or more assists through the first five games of a season.
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Doncic is averaging 40.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 9.2 assists so far this season in his second year with the Lakers. He’s shooting 50% from the field, 30.5% from 3-point range, and 78.5% from the free-throw line.
Along with Reaves, the duo is off to their best starts to an NBA season since entering the league, and it’s paying dividends in the win column. The Lakers now trail the Oklahoma City Thunder by just one game for the top spot in the Western Conference.
The Los Angeles Lakers will return to action on Saturday night against the Atlanta Hawks, beginning a five-game road trip that could coincide with James’ eventual return. J
ames was cleared for basketball activities on Thursday but is not expected to travel with the team as he ramps up for a potential return in mid-November.
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