SALT LAKE CITY — Luka Doncic came into Sunday’s game eager to find his offensive groove.
And he absolutely did so at Delta Center.
The Slovenian star guard recorded his first 50-point game of the season, leading the Lakers to a 132-123 victory over the Jazz, marking their third consecutive win to start the 2026-27 season.
Doncic finished the night with 52 points, hitting 17 of 30 shots, including three crucial 3-pointers in the tense final minutes.
His first stepback 3-pointer in the fourth quarter tied the game at 116 with just over four minutes to go.
The subsequent 3-pointers put the Lakers ahead by five and six points, effectively giving them control of the game.
As Doncic stepped to the free-throw line with 12.5 seconds left, chants of “M-V-P” echoed throughout the Jazz home arena.
Doncic’s shooting included 8 of 18 from beyond the arc and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line, along with 10 assists and 8 rebounds—just shy of a triple-double.
Austin Reaves contributed significantly with 29 points on 7 of 12 shooting, alongside 4 assists. Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle both pitched in 11 points each.
The Lakers had a rocky start, prompting coach JJ Redick to admit in a halftime interview that his team seemed unprepared to play.
The Jazz dominated the opening quarter, leading by 18 points at 47-29, showcasing their strength in various aspects of the game. They collected six offensive rebounds, five of which came from Ace Bailey, resulting in 16 second-chance points in that quarter. They also scored 24 points in the paint while hitting 5 of 10 from three-point range, leaving the Lakers struggling to keep up.
This time, the Lakers didn’t take until the third quarter to shift the momentum back in their favor. Instead, they surged ahead, outscoring the Jazz 45-24 in the second quarter, with Reaves leading the way with 15 points. Doncic capped off the quarter by stealing the ball from Bailey during a drive and then sinking a pull-up 3, sending the Lakers into halftime with a 74-71 lead after having trailed by 18 earlier in the quarter.
