11/07/2026 01:51:00
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11/07 01:49 CST Luka Doncic 'decided' to make his 61-foot heave punctuating
53-point effort in win over Blazers
Luka Doncic 'decided' to make his 61-foot heave punctuating 53-point effort in
win over Blazers
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers were trailing by
double digits in the final seconds of a tough first half against Portland when
Doncic took a few dribbles, stopped in the far free-throw circle and heaved a
glorious 61-footer off the backboard and in.
Doncic has done all types of magic during his spectacular start to the Lakers'
season, but this epic buzzer-beater was much more than simply the most
memorable moment from his 53-point performance in the Lakers' 124-118 win
Friday night.
"I think it changes the whole energy in the team and in the gym," Doncic said.
"I thought it was an important shot to make --- so that's why I decided to make
it."
A sly smile creeped onto Doncic's face with that playful boast --- but after
the NBA's leading scorer topped 40 points for the sixth time in seven games,
after he surpassed 50 points for the second time already this season, it was
clear Doncic can conjure just about anything he pleases on the court this
season.
And Doncic had a very good point: His three-quarter-court shot flipped the
momentum in a game that had been controlled by the Trail Blazers. Los Angeles
rode that wave into a dominant third quarter --- in which Doncic outscored
Portland all by himself --- and all the way to its eighth win in 10 games to
start the season amid Doncic's historic offensive success.
"When you've got a guy that can make shots like that, it's fun basketball,"
said Lakers center Walker Kessler, who had 16 points and 12 rebounds. "He's
incredible to watch. He's incredible to play alongside. He's my MVP. I think
it's pretty clear right now."
Doncic is averaging 40.1 points per game through the Lakers' first 10 games
while hitting 49.8% of his shots and 41.9% of his 3-point attempts.
Nobody who spends time around the Lakers is surprised when Doncic makes a shot
from half-court or beyond. He's pretty obsessed with those shots, sometimes
taking dozens of them after practice at the Lakers' training complex.
He already hit a memorable half-court shot just last month, squaring up and
banking it in over trash-talking Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg in the Lakers'
season-opening victory over Golden State.
"Luka can do some things that maybe a handful (or) no one can do in
basketball," Lakers coach JJ Redick said. "When he shoots it from three-
quarter court, you're surprised when it doesn't at least go in and out, hit the
rim."
Doncic is scoring from everywhere else on the court lately, too.
Even with a slow start against Portland in which he missed his first five
3-point attempts, he finished 17 for 33 with only three turnovers. He had five
3-pointers, five rebounds and five assists, hitting those marks along with at
least 35 points for his seventh consecutive game.
He has four 50-point performance in his 101 regular-season games with the
Lakers, already tied for the fourth-most in team history. He has 11 50-point
games in his nine-year career, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and tying Allen
Iverson for 10th in league history.
"I'm having a lot of fun," Doncic said. "Obviously, playing basketball, it's a
lot of fun for me. It's more when you play like this and when you win games."
___
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