Luka Dončić makes NBA history in first quarter against the Raptors
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Luka Dončić became the first NBA player ever with 4 steals and 4 three-pointers in a single first quarter.
- He finished the first half with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and a career-high 5 steals as the Lakers led 66-54.
- Late in the fourth quarter he had 41 points, 14 rebounds and 5 steals, per Sportradar's live tracker.
Luka Dončić made NBA history on Sunday night. No player had ever recorded 4 steals and 4 threes in a first quarter. The Los Angeles Lakers star did it against the Toronto Raptors at home in Los Angeles.
What happened
The Lakers hosted the Raptors on November 1. Dončić set the tone in the first five minutes. He grabbed two steals and drew two charges, according to Wire Report.
He had 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists after one quarter. He also had 4 steals and 4 three-pointers. The Lakers announced it was the first time any NBA player reached both marks in an opening quarter, per Wire Report.
The Lakers led 49-36 after the first quarter. Dončić kept rolling in the second. He reached halftime with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and a career-high 5 steals, according to USA Today.
He made six of his seven three-point attempts in the first half, per ClutchPoints. The Lakers led 66-54 at the break. The hot shooting did not stop there.
He had eight threes by the middle of the third quarter. That was one short of his career high, per USA Today. The records kept piling up with every made shot.
He became the first point guard in NBA history with 5 steals and 5 threes in a half. He also became the first player in the play-by-play era, which began in 1997-98, with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 threes and 5 steals in a half, per USA Today.
At the end of the third quarter, his line read 37 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals. That put him near a quadruple-double, which means double digits in four stat categories. Foul trouble was the only thing slowing him down, per USA Today.
Late in the fourth quarter, he had 41 points and 14 rebounds. The Lakers led 124-109 with 1:24 left, according to Sportradar's live tracker. Austin Reaves added 21 points for Los Angeles.
Why it matters
The night was a bounce-back for Los Angeles. Two nights earlier, the Lakers blew a 25-point lead and lost 112-95 to the Golden State Warriors, per Athlon Sports. Dončić scored 37 in that loss but faded late.
The Raptors came in short-handed. Kawhi Leonard missed the game with swelling in his left knee, per Athlon Sports. Scottie Barnes had carried Toronto with a career-high 41 points against Orlando two nights earlier, per multiple previews.
Dončić is now the league's top scorer. He is averaging over 36 points per game, according to ClutchPoints. His recent run tells the story: 52 points against Utah, 41 against Portland, then 37 in the loss to Golden State.
That scoring run echoes his 52-point night against the Jazz from late October. The difference on Sunday was the defense. Steals are not a normal part of his game, and five in one half changed everything for the Lakers.
Toronto had no answer for the two-way burst. The Raptors own one of the league's best defenses, but they were missing their best defender in Leonard. Dončić attacked the gaps from the opening tip.
The performance also matters for the standings. The Lakers came in at 4-2 and the Raptors at 3-2, per FanDuel. Both teams had lost two of their previous three games, per Deadspin.
What happens next
The Lakers still need more help for their star. ClutchPoints noted that Los Angeles went 1-2 in the previous three games despite Dončić's huge scoring. Steady offense beyond Dončić and Reaves remains the big question.
The bench is the weak spot. The Warriors' bench outscored the Lakers' bench 50-7 on Friday, per one game preview. Nights like Sunday hide that problem, but it will return against deeper teams.
Toronto gets no rest. The Raptors stay in Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Monday, per Deadspin, and Leonard will miss that game too. The young Raptors core gets another test against a veteran team.
For Dončić, the next step is simple. He must keep the defensive energy without picking up fouls. He ended the third quarter in foul trouble, per USA Today, and five fouls limit how aggressive he can be late.
The scoring lead is his to lose. No other player is close to his per-game average right now, per ClutchPoints. If he keeps scoring at this pace, the MVP talk will only grow louder.
One night does not make a season. But Dončić is playing at a level the league has not seen in years. If this version shows up every night, the Lakers will be a problem for every team they face.
Related stories
Why Is Altitude Sickness Worse for Some People?
Altitude sickness hits some people harder because of genetics, ascent speed, and prior history, not fitness level. Here is what raises risk
Why Do You Get Blisters When Hiking and How to Prevent Them
Friction plus moisture plus heat equals a blister. Learn why hiking breeds all three, and the boots, socks, and tape system that keeps
How to choose hiking boots for beginners: fit, features, and break-in
Beginners should buy for fit first: snug everywhere, tight nowhere, with a thumb's width at the toes. Here is how to size, test,