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Luka Dončić Makes NBA History With Back-to-Back Massive Games to Start Season
Luka Dončić is off to an electric start in his first full season as a Laker. In Lebron James's absence, Dončić has scored a whopping 92 points over L.A.'s first two games of the new NBA season, highlighted by a 49-point night in their win over the Timberwolves Friday.
In the Lakers' 128-110 win over Anthony Edwards and the Wolves, Dončić went off with 49 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and just three turnovers. He drained five three-pointers and went 16-for-19 from the foul line.
He had an incredible game in their season opener, too, with 43 points, 12 boards and nine assists, but the Lakers weren't able to get the win as they fell to the Warriors 119-109 Tuesday. According to the NBA, Dončić became the first player in league history to open a season with back-to-back games of 40 or more points, 10-plus rebounds and five-plus assists. He set a Lakers franchise record with 92 points over the first two games of the season, breaking Jerry West's previous mark of 81 points, per ESPN.
Luka Dončić becomes the FIRST player in NBA history to open a season with back-to-back games of 40+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists! https://t.co/HIXIBBNqFo pic.twitter.com/IzYjbiWpPa
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) October 25, 2025
He's also the first Laker with back-to-back 40-point games to start a season and just the fourth player to reach the feat in NBA history, joining the elite company of Anthony Davis, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain, according to ESPN. The offensive outbursts have come at a great time for the Lakers with James sidelined as he deals with sciatica.
Dončic's dazzling performances come after he signed a three-year max contract extension with the Lakers in the offseason to remain with the franchise following his shocking trade from the Dallas Mavericks to L.A. at last season's trade deadline.
With James's legendary NBA career in its twilight, the Lakers are Dončić's team in the long run and he's making the big extension pay dividends early.
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Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.