Luka Dončić Scores 45 With 15 Rebounds and Five Steals as Lakers Hold Off Raptors 131-125

Luka Dončić kept up his blistering start to the season Sunday night. He had 45 points, a season-high 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 131-125 at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers (5-2) led by 26 in the third quarter. A late run by Toronto’s reserves made it closer than it should have been and forced coach JJ Redick to send his starters back in for the final possessions.

Raptors vs. Lakers: how the game went

Dončić set the tone early again. He scored 16 points with four 3-pointers in the first quarter, had 24 points and eight rebounds by halftime, and hit a three with 0.5 seconds left in the half for a 66-54 lead, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles led 102-76 with 90 seconds left in the third quarter, per the Associated Press. Toronto cut it to single digits before Dončić and Austin Reaves led a quick 9-1 rally.

Then it got strange. The Lakers pulled their starters with 1:43 left and a 16-point lead, and the Raptors’ bench scored 11 points in 40 seconds to cut it to 125-120. Dončić, Reaves and Walker Kessler came back in and closed it out.

Luka stats: another 40-point night

Dončić needed only 35 minutes for his line:

• 45 points on 12-of-23 shooting
• 8 of 12 from 3-point range
• 13 of 13 from the free-throw line
• 15 rebounds (season high), 6 assists, 5 steals

According to the AP, it was his fourth straight game with at least 37 points, which extended his early lead in the NBA scoring race. It was also his 20th game of 40 or more points in 98 regular-season games with the Lakers. It was his second game with the Lakers of at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five steals, something no other Laker had done since the 1982-83 season.

The night was also a Dončić bobblehead giveaway, the Times noted.

Toronto Raptors vs. Lakers match player stats

Lakers - Luka Dončić: 45 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals - Austin Reaves: 19 points - Walker Kessler: 16 points (6 of 6 shooting), 15 rebounds, 3 blocks - Collin Sexton: 14 points off the bench

Raptors - Scottie Barnes: 29 points, 6 rebounds - RJ Barrett: 22 points

The Lakers turned the ball over 22 times, which kept Toronto within reach.

Scottie Barnes and a short-handed Toronto team

Barnes led Toronto again, but the Raptors were without Kawhi Leonard. He missed his fourth straight game with a knee injury, the AP reported. Toronto opened a four-game road trip with its third loss in four games and fell to 3-3, per the Times.

Redick preaches patience

The Lakers have nine new players and are still building chemistry. They were also coming off a 17-point loss at Golden State on Friday in which they blew a 25-point lead.

“Frankly, this entire season is about becoming a great team,” Redick said, per the Times. “We believe we can become a great team and I think as coaches, players, we all have to participate in patience with that.”

Lakers injury notes

• Ziaire Williams missed his third straight game with left foot soreness. Redick said a scan was “clean” and that the team is being cautious on a back-to-back.
• Cameron Carr, the Lakers’ first-round pick, made his NBA debut in the final 1:43 after missing the first six games with an oblique injury. He didn’t score.

What’s next

Both teams play again Monday night. The Lakers host the Miami Heat, and the Raptors visit the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome, the AP reported. Leonard isn’t expected to play in his return to face his former team.

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