Luka Doncic scores 52 points as Lakers beat Jazz 132-123
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Luka Doncic scored 52 points as the Lakers beat the Jazz 132-123.
- The game took place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in Salt Lake City.
- Doncic also had 10 assists and eight three-point shots in the win.
Luka Doncic scored 52 points for the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. His team beat the Utah Jazz 132-123 in Salt Lake City. It was the first 50-point game of this NBA season, according to ESPN.
The win was not easy. Utah led by 18 points in the first half. Los Angeles fought back and took control late in the game.
Doncic scored 13 of his points in the last 4:06, according to the New York Post.
What happened
The game started badly for the Lakers. Utah won the first quarter 47-29, according to the New York Post. The Jazz led by 18 points early in the game.
They played with high energy at home.
Los Angeles answered in the second quarter. The Lakers outscored Utah 45-24 in that quarter, according to the New York Post. Austin Reaves scored 15 points in the second quarter.
His scoring helped Los Angeles get back into the game.
Doncic closed the first half in style. He hit a step-back three-point shot with 4.1 seconds left, according to ESPN. That shot gave the Lakers their first lead of the game.
The score at half-time was 74-71 to Los Angeles.
Doncic already had 39 points after three quarters, according to USA Today. He hit a step-back three to close the third quarter too. That shot gave the Lakers a 103-100 lead.
The game stayed close into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter belonged to Doncic. His first step-back three of the fourth tied the game at 116. That came with just over four minutes left, according to the New York Post. His next two three-point shots put Los Angeles ahead by five and then six points.
ESPN reported the key late run in detail. Doncic finished a 14-5 run with back-to-back three-point shots. Those shots gave Los Angeles a 127-121 lead with 1:42 left.
He then set up Reaves for a three-point shot with 34 seconds left. That made the score 130-123.
The crowd at the Delta Center chanted "M-V-P" for Doncic, according to the New York Post. He waved goodbye to Jazz fans after the late assist to Reaves. The Lakers closed out a 132-123 win on the road.
The final numbers show how complete the night was. Doncic made 17 of 30 shots from the field, according to USA Today. He made eight of 18 three-point shots.
He made 10 of 11 free throws. He also had 10 assists for his team.
Reaves added 29 points for the Lakers, according to ESPN. He made seven of 12 shots. Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 28 points, according to ESPN.
Keyonte George added 24 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists for Utah.
One small side story stood out. Walker Kessler played his first game back in Utah, according to ESPN. He had joined the Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal in July.
He scored only two points in this game. Doncic backed him after the game, according to ESPN. He said the team had Kessler's back.
We previewed this Lakers trip to Utah before the game. That preview flagged Kessler's return to Utah as a key story. The game lived up to that billing, but Doncic stole the show.
Why it matters
This was more than one big scoring night. It was the first 50-point game of the NBA season, according to ESPN. That is why fans searched for NBA scores after the game.
A 52-point night always draws attention.
The win also kept the Lakers perfect. It was their third straight win to start the season, according to the New York Post. ESPN noted it was only the second time in 10 seasons that Los Angeles started 3-0. The last such start came in 2024-25.
The comeback matters too. Teams that fall behind by 18 points on the road often lose. The Lakers did not panic, according to Doncic.
He said the team showed character and heart, according to ESPN. He said the team stayed in the game and talked to each other. He said everyone was locked in.
The night also changed the record books. It was the 10th 50-point game of Doncic's career, according to USA Today. That tied him with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
It moved him past Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who each have nine.
Doncic also reached 3,000 points as a Laker in 95 games, according to USA Today. That was faster than George Mikan, who took 106 games. It was also faster than Abdul-Jabbar, who took 109 games.
For a player in his third season with Los Angeles, that pace stands out.
The assist numbers add another record. It was Doncic's fourth career game with 50 points and 10 assists, according to ESPN. That broke a tie with Nikola Jokic, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, and Nate Archibald.
Only James Harden, with eight such games, has more.
ESPN also noted a rare feat. Doncic became the second player to record a 50-point, 10-assist game for two teams. The other player was Wilt Chamberlain.
Doncic has now done it for the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks.
USA Today added one more Lakers record. Doncic became the first Laker since 1963 with at least 50 points and 10 assists in a game. He joined Elgin Baylor and Jerry West as the only Lakers to do it.
That puts his night in old and famous company.
The game also answered an early-season question. Doncic had a slow start to the season, according to the New York Post. He shot 38.5 percent from the field in the first two games.
He said he was still finding his rhythm after a long break from play. This game showed the rhythm is back.
Coach JJ Redick praised the show Doncic put on, according to USA Today. He said Doncic gets into showman mode when he is in flow. He said it is always fun to watch.
Reaves agreed after the game, according to the New York Post. He said it was only a matter of time before Doncic had a night like this.
The Kessler story shows how fast NBA teams change. Kessler made his Lakers preseason debut earlier in October. Now he faced his old team in a real game.
His quiet night did not hurt the Lakers. The win still counts the same.
What happens next
The Lakers will try to keep this winning start going. A 3-0 start gives a team early belief. It also gives fans a reason to watch the next games closely.
Doncic is now the early scoring story of the season.
Other teams will now plan for Doncic with extra care. They saw what he can do when he gets hot late. They will try to stop his step-back three-point shot.
They will also try to force the ball out of his hands. That is easier to plan than to do.
The MVP talk will also grow. Fans chanted "M-V-P" in Utah, an away arena. That rarely happens for a visiting player.
Doncic has never won the MVP award, according to the New York Post. Nights like this keep his name in that talk.
For Utah, the lesson is clear. A big early lead is not enough against a star in form. The Jazz led by 18 points and still lost.
They must hold leads for all four quarters. Their young players, like Ace Bailey, will learn from this loss.
Fans who want the wider season picture can read our NBA season start guide. It explains how to follow the 2026-27 season. The Lakers are now one of the teams to watch each night.
Doncic gave the simplest summary himself after the game, according to USA Today. He said it meant everything to step up for his team on the road. That is what he did in Utah.
The next test is to do it again.
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