Luka Doncic stuffed the stat sheet on Thursday night, recording 45 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists and five steals with just one turnover as the Los Angeles Lakers edged the Utah Jazz 143-135 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
Despite shooting 50 percent from the field and leading a game in which the Lakers committed only seven turnovers, the 26-year-old guard insisted the performance was not enough.
“I think, honestly, I could do so much more,” Doncic told reporters, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “But I think that one turnover is the best stat-wise on this stat sheet. We had seven turnovers, which is impressive for us, and we won the game.”
Historic night in Lakers record book
Doncic became just the fourth player in franchise history to post a 40-point triple-double, joining Elgin Baylor, Magic Johnson and Jerry West. It was the first such line by a Laker since Johnson achieved the feat on March 28, 1981—also against Utah.
The outing also marked the 10th 40-point triple-double of Doncic’s career, making him the fourth player in NBA history to reach double digits in that category. The others are James Harden, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.
Lakers win, but margin remains slim
Los Angeles allowed 135 points to a Jazz team playing without leading scorer Lauri Markkanen, underscoring Doncic’s belief that greater consistency is required. LeBron James added a strong performance, yet the Lakers’ advantage never exceeded single digits in the closing minutes.
The victory moved the Lakers to 18-9 on the season. They continue their road trip Saturday against the Denver Nuggets.
Source: Lakers Nation
