LOS ANGELES — Luka Dončić gave the Los Angeles Lakers exactly the response they needed Sunday night, even if the finish was far more stressful than it should have been.
Dončić poured in 45 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and added six assists as the Lakers held off the Toronto Raptors, 131-125, at Crypto.com Arena. Los Angeles led by as many as 26 and carried a 22-point advantage into the fourth quarter before Toronto made the Lakers play to the final seconds.
After blowing a 25-point lead in Friday’s 112-95 loss to the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers nearly invited another uncomfortable ending. This time, however, their lead was large enough and Dončić’s work through three quarters proved decisive.
Dončić sets the tone early
Dončić controlled the game from the opening quarter. He scored 16 points in the first 12 minutes as the Lakers shot 72.2 percent from the field and made seven 3-pointers on the way to a 36-23 lead.
Los Angeles kept the pressure on in the second quarter and took a 66-54 advantage into halftime. The Lakers then delivered their best stretch of the night in the third, outscoring Toronto 38-28 to build a 104-82 lead.
Dončić finished 12 of 23 from the field, 8 of 12 from beyond the arc and a perfect 13 of 13 at the free-throw line. He also recorded five steals and one block, turning in the kind of complete performance that can steady a team after a frustrating loss.
Kessler gives the Lakers control inside
Walker Kessler supplied the interior presence the Lakers needed, finishing with 16 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. He made all six of his field-goal attempts and all four of his free throws.
Austin Reaves added 19 points and four assists, while Collin Sexton scored 14 off the bench. Sandro Mamukelashvili chipped in 11 points as Los Angeles placed five players in double figures.
The Lakers shot 53.8 percent overall, made 18 of 37 from 3-point range and converted 27 of 32 free throws. That efficiency helped them overcome a sloppy 24-turnover night.
Toronto makes the finish uncomfortable
The Raptors refused to go quietly. Toronto scored 43 points in the fourth quarter and trimmed what had been a 26-point deficit to six by the final horn.
Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 29 points, six rebounds and five assists. RJ Barrett had 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Jamison Battle scored 20 off the bench.
Toronto created extra chances all night, grabbing 22 offensive rebounds and scoring 30 points off Lakers turnovers. The Raptors also finished with 35 assists and 14 steals. Those numbers explain how a game Los Angeles controlled for three quarters became tense late.
The Lakers’ offense was brilliant enough to survive it, but the fourth quarter offered another warning. Los Angeles cannot keep giving teams life with careless possessions, especially after what happened two nights earlier in San Francisco.
What the win means
The Lakers improved to 5-2 and bounced back from their first NBA Cup loss. More importantly, Dončić looked every bit like the player capable of carrying the offense when the game demands it.
The night still left JJ Redick with plenty to address. The Lakers allowed 43 points in the fourth quarter, committed 24 turnovers and surrendered 22 offensive rebounds. Those issues will punish them against better opponents.
For one night, though, Dončić’s 45-point performance and Kessler’s work around the rim were enough. The Lakers got the win they needed, even if they made themselves sweat for it.
Quarter-by-quarter scoring
- First quarter: Lakers 36, Raptors 23
- Second quarter: Lakers 30, Raptors 31
- Third quarter: Lakers 38, Raptors 28
- Fourth quarter: Lakers 27, Raptors 43
- Final: Lakers 131, Raptors 125
[…] night after Dončić carried the Lakers to a 131-125 win over the Toronto Raptors, he controlled this one as both scorer and playmaker. The Lakers scored 269 points across the […]