Image via Wikimedia Commons / Erik Drost, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Luka Doncic produced a night for the NBA record books on Sunday, 1 November 2026, scoring 45 points with 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 131-125 at Crypto.com Arena. It was, by two separate measures, a first in league history.
According to USA Today, Doncic became the first player in NBA history to record at least 45 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, five steals and five three-pointers in a single game. He also became the first player in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) to post 20 points, five rebounds, five three-pointers and five steals in a single half, and the first point guard ever with five steals and five three-pointers in a half.
The numbers tell the story of a fast start. Doncic scored 16 points in the first quarter, had 24 points and eight rebounds by half-time, and reached 40 points before the end of the third quarter, finishing 12-of-23 from the field, 8-of-12 from three-point range and a perfect 13-of-13 from the free-throw line. It was his fourth consecutive game scoring at least 37 points, extending his early lead in the NBA scoring race.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Doncic (Lakers) | 45 | 15 | 6 | 5 |
| Scottie Barnes (Raptors) | 29 | — | — | — |
| RJ Barrett (Raptors) | 22 | 10 | — | — |
| Austin Reaves (Lakers) | 19 | — | 4 | — |
| Walker Kessler (Lakers) | 16 | 15 | — | — |
The Lakers led by as many as 26 points early in the third quarter and by 102-76 late in the third, but the win was far from comfortable. Toronto outscored Los Angeles 43-27 in the fourth quarter, and after coach JJ Redick emptied the bench with a 14-point lead, the Raptors cut the gap to 125-120 with under a minute left, forcing Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler back into the game to close it out.
It was a bounce-back win after Friday's 17-point loss to the Golden State Warriors, in which the Lakers had blown a 25-point lead, and it lifted Los Angeles to 5-2 on the season. The result capped a dramatic weekend of sport, following the NFL Week 8 Sunday results, where the Bills routed the Ravens and the Lions ended the Vikings' perfect start. Next up, the Lakers host the Miami Heat, though it remains unclear whether Doncic will play the second game of a back-to-back — a decision fans will watch closely after a night like this.
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