LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic made sure there was no drama Friday night. The Lakers superstar torched the Minnesota Timberwolves for 49 points in a 128–110 rout, a game that looked even more lopsided than the final score suggests.
Lakers Control the Game from Tip-Off
From the opening possession, the Lakers were locked in. Doncic sliced through Minnesota’s defense, mixing pull-up threes with crafty drives, while L.A.’s ball movement kept the Wolves scrambling. By the end of the first quarter, the Lakers were already up by double digits and never looked back.
By halftime, Doncic had 31 points on 12-for-17 shooting, including four deep threes that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Every time Minnesota threatened a run, Luka answered — often with a step-back dagger that silenced any hope of a comeback.
And when he buried his seventh three-pointer late in the third quarter, Crypto.com Arena erupted with “MVP! MVP!” chants — in just the second game of the NBA season.
“We talked about setting the tone early,” Doncic said. “When we play our tempo, it’s tough for anyone to keep up.”
Reaves Steps Up as the Perfect Co-Star
While Luka handled the scoring load, Austin Reaves turned in a commanding two-way performance of his own, finishing with 25 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds. He repeatedly attacked mismatches and orchestrated the offense whenever Doncic sat.
“When Luka draws two or three guys, it’s on me to stay aggressive,” Reaves said. “We’re learning each other’s rhythm, and it’s starting to click.”
Statement Made in October
For the Lakers, the win evens their record at 1–1 and sends an early message to the rest of the Western Conference: this team looks dangerous when Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are in sync.
“That’s what leadership looks like,” head coach JJ Redick said. “Luka set the tone, Austin followed, and everyone else fed off that.”
As for the fans, the MVP chants raining down in October say it all — Los Angeles believes they’re watching something special.