#10 trendingLakers vs. Jazz
Luka Dončić scores NBA season-high 52 as Lakers rally past Jazz 132-123 to stay unbeaten
Final: Lakers 132, Jazz 123. Luka Dončić scored 52 points, the first 50-point game of the NBA season, and the Los Angeles Lakers came back from an 18-point deficit to beat the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 25.
Dončić made eight 3-pointers and added 10 assists, and Austin Reaves scored 29. The Lakers improved to 3-0 in their first road game of the season. The Jazz fell to 1-2, according to The Associated Press.
Lakers vs. Jazz score by quarter
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakers | 29 | 45 | 29 | 29 | 132 |
| Jazz | 47 | 24 | 29 | 23 | 123 |
Game timeline
- First quarter: Utah scored 47 points and led by 18 after 12 minutes. The Jazz had six offensive rebounds and 16 second-chance points in the period, the New York Post reported.
- Second quarter: Reaves scored 15 in the quarter as the Lakers outscored Utah 45-24. Dončić stripped Ace Bailey and hit a stepback 3 with 4.1 seconds left for a 74-71 halftime lead, the Lakers’ first of the game.
- Fourth quarter: Dončić’s first stepback 3 of the period tied it at 116 with just over four minutes left. He capped a 14-5 run with back-to-back 3s for a 127-121 lead with 1:42 to go, AP reported.
- Closing seconds: Reaves hit a 3 off a Dončić assist for a 130-123 lead with 34 seconds left, and “M-V-P” chants broke out as Dončić went to the line late, per the Post.
All 13 of Dončić’s fourth-quarter points came in the final 4:06.
Luka Dončić stats
Dončić shot 17 of 30 from the field, 8 of 18 from 3-point range and 10 of 11 at the line in 38 minutes, according to the NBA.com box score. NBA.com and the Post credited him with eight rebounds; AP’s recap listed seven.
He came in averaging 25.5 points on 38.5% shooting, the Post noted, after an offseason in which he did not play for Slovenia’s national team.
“I’m still getting there, honestly,” Dončić said, per the Post. “This is the first time I didn’t play basketball in six or seven months, which is a long time.”
Coach JJ Redick described what it looks like when Dončić gets going: “When he’s in the flow state, he gets into like showman mode, he’s on stage performing, and that’s always really fun to watch.”
Lakers vs. Utah Jazz player stats
| Player | Team | PTS | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Dončić | Lakers | 52 | 8 | 10 |
| Austin Reaves | Lakers | 29 | 1 | 4 |
| Lauri Markkanen | Jazz | 28 | 7 | 1 |
| Keyonte George | Jazz | 24 | 9 | 10 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | Jazz | 20 | 2 | 1 |
| Ace Bailey | Jazz | 17 | 12 | 4 |
| Collin Sexton | Lakers | 13 | 2 | 1 |
Per the NBA.com box score.
Dončić and Reaves combined to go 21 of 24 on free throws, AP reported. Utah dominated the glass with 19 offensive rebounds to the Lakers’ four and a 32-11 edge in second-chance points, but the Lakers made 20 3-pointers to the Jazz’s 10, according to the Post.
Walker Kessler’s quiet return
Yesterday’s big storyline was Walker Kessler’s first game against his former team after a sign-and-trade in July. It did not go his way. Kessler finished with two points on 1-of-2 shooting, seven rebounds and four fouls in 28 minutes, after averaging 24 points over the Lakers’ first two games.
Reaves said he never doubted Dončić after a slow start to the season. “It was a matter of time before he did what he did,” he said, according to the Post.
What’s next
- Lakers: host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
- Jazz: host the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.
FAQ
Who won the Lakers vs. Jazz game last night?
The Lakers won 132-123 in Salt Lake City.
How many points did Luka Dončić score?
52, a season high for any NBA player so far, with eight 3-pointers and 10 assists.
How did Walker Kessler play against the Jazz?
He had two points and seven rebounds in his first game back in Utah.
What is the Lakers’ record?
The Lakers are 3-0. The Jazz are 1-2.
Earlier coverage: Lakers vs. Jazz: Walker Kessler returns to Utah as unbeaten Lakers make first road trip (Oct 25)