Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, and Luka Dončić. That’s it — that’s the list. The Slovenian national team player joined the legendary center and the greatest basketball player of all time as only the third player to score at least 125 points in the first three games of the season, something Jordan last achieved 39 years ago. Wilt managed it three times (1961/62, 1962/63, 1965/66), and now Luka is the first since the 1986/87 season and His Airness to do it. However, Jordan did not have three consecutive 40+ games like Dončić, something only Wilt accomplished twice.
Dončić finished the game with 44 points (8/12 for two, 6/15 for three, 10/13 free throws), 12 rebounds, and six assists in the Los Angeles team’s 117:112 road win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The city of angels has already gotten used to everything being in Luka Dončić’s hands now that LeBron James is out. The incredible Slovenian playmaker missed three games, during which Austin Reaves took on his role and carried the Lakers, but now that the player averaging 46 points this season is back, it was clear who would be holding the ball almost all the time. That’s exactly what happened, as Dončić scored 13 in the first quarter, 18 by halftime, and then 17 in the third for a total of 35 before the final ten minutes.
Although Luka played a masterful first quarter and gave his team a four-point lead, a disastrous second period cost the Lakers dearly. They allowed as many as 42 points, their defense was almost nonexistent, and instead of leading, they went into halftime in Memphis with a huge deficit. The Grizzlies were up by 14, but the visitors erased that in the third quarter thanks to Luka. They reduced the gap to just two points and even took the lead early in the fourth.
They tightened their defense, held on during Dončić’s rest minutes, and once he returned to the court, the lead kept growing. Soon he recorded a double-double with points and rebounds, while Memphis had no idea what to do on offense or how to recover after a massive turnaround. With a three-pointer for his 40th point and an 11-point lead, Luka completely ‘killed’ Thomas Isal’s team, breaking record after record. The visitors maintained a safe advantage until the end and secured their fourth win of the season.
Alongside Dončić, Austin Reaves stood out with 21 points, Laravia added 13, and Smart 12. For Memphis, former Partizan Mozzart Bet player Jock Landale was the best with 16 points. Jaylen Wells also scored 16, Jaren Jackson Jr. had 15, Cedric Coward 13 points and ten rebounds, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 12, and Cam Spencer also 12. Ja Morant finished with only eight points (3/14 from the field) and seven assists.
After the game, the coaching staff blamed Morant for everything, as he answered every reporter’s question with “I don’t know, ask the coaching staff.” He added that apparently the coach’s solution was for him not to be on the court. Something has clearly started brewing in the locker room.
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Source: Mozzart, Foto: AP