Luka Doncic is a scoring machine.
Last Thursday, Doncic recorded his first 50-point game with the Los Angeles Lakers. This Thursday, he cranked it up a notch.
The MVP frontrunner erupted for 60 points in a 134-126 win over the Miami Heat, the highest scoring total of his Lakers career.
“I know what it’s like to be in that mode,” Bam Adebayo said after the game, referring to his recent 83-point game. “He made some tough shots, and you tip your hat off.”
Between Thursday and Doncic’s 40 points in the first night of the back-to-back, the Slovenian star posted 100 points in the span of 24 hours.
Additionally, it is the first 60-point performance by a Laker since Kobe Bryant’s iconic farewell game in 2016.
JJ Redick Praises Doncic After Historic Night
GettyLuka Doncic has scored 100 points in the span of 24 hours
Despite being on the second leg of a back-to-back, Doncic looked fresh as a daisy against the Heat.
The Slovenian guard finished with 60 points, seven rebounds and five steals. He converted 18 of his 30 shot attempts, including nine made three-pointers.
Following his impressive showing at Kaseya Center, Lakers head coach JJ Redick lauded the former scoring champion.
“It was a superhero performance. I thought him keeping us afloat early was really important. All of the groups in the second quarter did a nice job… He made big shots, made tough shots, made the right reads,” Redick said about Doncic’s big night.
“When he gets it going like that, you just kind of let him go. His teammates saw that. The shot making was unreal tonight.”
Doncic has averaged 40.9 points in his past eight games.
Lakers co-star LeBron James noted that the team was thrilled to see him notch 60 points with a late-game free throw.
“I mean, you saw how we all reacted on the floor. We were super happy he was able to get that last free throw to give him a 60 piece,” James said.
James added that the team didn’t have to force-feed Doncic the ball for him to reach the 60-point threshold.
“It was just within the flow. It wasn’t even like he was trying to force his way to get it.”
Alongside Doncic, James also made history on Thursday against his former team.
This game was James’ 1,611th regular-season game in his career, tying Hall of Famer and Celtics legend Robert Parish’s all-time NBA record.
Should Doncic Be the MVP Favorite?
GettyLuka Doncic leads the NBA in scoring
While the race was much closer a couple of months ago, Doncic may be emerging as the MVP frontrunner this season.
Nikola Jokic is ineligible for awards due to the 65-game requirement. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is also at risk of being ineligible due to missed time.
Furthermore, Cade Cunningham, who was enjoying an MVP-caliber season in Detroit, will now miss extended time with a collapsed lung.
Meanwhile, Doncic continues scoring at an absurd rate.
Should he continue his torrid pace, he may be in line to receive his first career MVP award.
For now, the Doncic and the Lakers aim to extend their winning streak to double digits.
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