Luka Doncic Drops 44 in Return, Leads Lakers Past Grizzlies
Luka Doncic made his return to the court in absolutely spectacular fashion. After missing three straight games due to a left finger sprain and a lower leg contusion, Doncic came back like he never left — dropping 44 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out six assists as the Los Angeles Lakers took down the Memphis Grizzlies 117-112 on Friday night.
This was not just another big game for Doncic — it was historic. With this performance, he became only the second player in NBA history to start a season with three consecutive 40-point games, joining the legendary Wilt Chamberlain, who managed to do it twice. That’s rarefied air, and Doncic looks entirely comfortable up there.
The game itself was a rollercoaster. Memphis came out hot in the second quarter, riding a 27-4 run that gave them a 69-55 lead at halftime. But once Doncic found his rhythm, the tide began to turn. He poured in 16 points in the third quarter alone, erasing the deficit and setting up a nail-biting fourth. Every time Memphis tried to rally, Doncic had an answer — a deep three, a drive through traffic, or a slick assist that broke down the defense.
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It’s worth noting that the Lakers are still without LeBron James, who’s sidelined with right sciatica. But with Doncic running the show, the team didn’t look like it missed a beat. His control of the game was remarkable — patient when it mattered, aggressive when it counted. As head coach JJ Redick put it, “He just continues to get where he wants to go and takes what the defense gives him.”
Austin Reaves added 21 points for the Lakers, even joking after the game about Doncic’s scoring outburst: “If you come out and he has 15 in the first, we’re going to score 30 in that quarter — unless everybody else is shooting bricks like I was tonight.”
Doncic, ever humble, focused more on the win than his personal milestone. “I feel great,” he said with a grin. “But obviously after we get a win, I feel even better. That’s the whole point.”
Through his first three games of the season, Doncic is averaging an astonishing 45.3 points per game — a pace that even he admits will be tough to maintain. Still, for now, the league is on notice. Luka Doncic is back, healthy, and playing like a man on a mission.
The Lakers now head home to face the Miami Heat on Sunday, while Memphis travels north to take on the Toronto Raptors. If Doncic keeps playing like this, every Lakers game might start feeling like must-see TV.
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