Luka Doncic Returns, Drops 44 in Lakers 117-112 Win over Grizzlies/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Luka Doncic returned from injury to power the Lakers past the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring 44 points in a 117-112 road win. It marked his third consecutive 40-point game to start the season, putting him in elite company with Wilt Chamberlain. Marcus Smart also returned for the Lakers, who rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit.
Doncic’s Return Powers Lakers Quick Looks
- Luka Doncic scores 44 points after 3-game injury absence
- Third straight 40-point game to open the season
- Joins Wilt Chamberlain in rare scoring start
- Lakers erase 14-point halftime deficit in Memphis
- Doncic adds 12 rebounds and 6 assists
- Marcus Smart returns, contributes 12 points and defense
- Austin Reaves adds 21 points in the comeback
- Doncic averaging 45.4 PPG, shooting 58.4% this season
Deep Look
Doncic Returns With Dominant 44-Point Effort, Leads Lakers to Comeback Win in Memphis
Luka Doncic returned to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup Friday night in commanding fashion, delivering a 44-point performance that helped the team secure a hard-fought 117-112 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Playing at FedEx Forum after a three-game absence, Doncic looked every bit the superstar who had already put up historic numbers in his first two games of the season.
From the moment he stepped on the floor for warmups—coolly sinking a half-court shot as teammates laughed and coaches paid the price in push-ups—Doncic looked locked in. And by the final buzzer, the 26-year-old had once again etched his name alongside NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain, becoming just the second player in league history to open a season with three consecutive 40-point games.
“Jesus,” Doncic said with a laugh after learning Chamberlain did it twice—scoring 40-plus in five and seven straight games to start separate seasons.
Doncic, never one to fixate on personal milestones, deflected attention to the team’s performance. “If we get a win, I feel even better,” he said. “That’s the whole point: trying to help the team to win. Sometimes that’s scoring, sometimes other things.”
Despite nursing a left finger sprain and a left leg contusion suffered on October 24 against Minnesota—where he still managed to score 49—Doncic’s return came earlier than expected thanks to aggressive rehab and around-the-clock treatment. Initially ruled out for at least a week, he rejoined the team in Memphis Thursday and wasted no time getting back to work, heading straight to the gym with coaches and staff.
Marcus Smart also returned from a left quad contusion, adding 12 points, four assists, and two steals in his first game back. Both he and Doncic were reinserted into the starting lineup as the Lakers looked to bounce back from a slow start.
Down 14 points at halftime, the Lakers found their spark in the third quarter, outscoring Memphis behind Doncic’s 16-point explosion in the period. He dazzled the Memphis crowd with his signature shot-making and improvisation, hitting step-back threes, gliding through double-teams, and finishing tough layups that left defenders shaking their heads.
At one point, he slipped a behind-the-back dribble through a trap, drawing gasps from the crowd, before finishing at the rim to give the Lakers a four-point edge. On another possession, rather than launching a contested jumper late in the shot clock, Doncic found a cutting Deandre Ayton for an easy layup—a reminder of his court vision and unselfishness.
Austin Reaves, who had stepped up during Doncic’s absence, continued his strong play, scoring 21 points and helping the Lakers (now 4-2) stay in rhythm offensively. The team’s balance and resilience were on full display, but Doncic remained the heartbeat of the comeback.
Even his teammates find themselves in awe.
“Fantasticness,” Smart said with a grin when asked about Doncic’s return. “It’s been great to watch.”
Through three games, Doncic is averaging a staggering 45.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 7.7 assists while shooting 58.4% from the field—an MVP-level pace that seems both dominant and effortless.
The Lakers have now won three of their last four games, including two victories without their star guard. But Friday’s game was a reminder: with Doncic on the floor, the Lakers are never out of any game.
Though Memphis fought hard and stayed within striking distance, it was Doncic’s ability to control tempo and make timely plays that ultimately closed the door. The Grizzlies simply couldn’t match his command of the game, despite moments of brilliance from forward Jaren Jackson Jr.
“Game felt like it was on a string in his hands,” one Memphis fan was overheard saying, echoing the sentiment of many in attendance.
For Doncic and the Lakers, the season is off to a thrilling start—and now that he’s healthy again, the rest of the league has been put on notice.
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