Luka Dončić keeps finding new ways to fill a box score. On Sunday night the Slovenian guard scored 45 in a 131-125 win over Toronto, and he also grabbed 15 boards, his best this season, while handing out six assists and picking five pockets.
The official scoresheet makes the efficiency look almost casual: 12 of 23 from the floor, 8 of 12 from beyond the arc and a flawless 13 for 13 at the free-throw line. He had 16 points before the first quarter was over and 24 by the interval. It was his fourth game in a row with at least 37 points, stretching his early lead at the top of the league’s scoring chart, and his 20th game of 40 or more in 98 regular-season appearances for the Lakers.
For three quarters the night looked comfortable. Los Angeles led 102-76 late in the third and stretched the margin to 26 at one stage. Then coach JJ Redick pulled his starters with under two minutes left, and Toronto’s bench reeled off a burst that cut the gap to 125-120. Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler had to jog back on to close it out.
Reaves chipped in 19, and Kessler was a force inside with a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 29 and RJ Barrett scored 22 for a Toronto side still missing Kawhi Leonard, who sat out again to rest his knee.
The win was a timely response from the Lakers after Friday’s collapse at Golden State, where they squandered a 25-point lead. At 5-2 they sit among the early pacesetters in the West, while the Raptors dropped to 3-3 on the first stop of a long trip away from home.
