Doncic Scores 52 as Lakers Stay Unbeaten, Champion Knicks Fall to 0-3
Luka Doncic scored a season-high 52 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers past the Utah Jazz 132-123, while defending champions the New York Knicks lost again to fall to 0-3.
Doncic Leads Lakers Comeback
The Los Angeles Lakers came back from 18 points down in the first quarter to beat the Utah Jazz 132-123 in Salt Lake City. The Lakers won the second quarter 45-24 to take the lead, then held off a late Jazz fightback.
Luka Doncic, last season’s scoring champion, finished with 52 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists. He is the first player to score 50 points in a game this season. He also hit big three-pointers late in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Austin Reaves added 29 points. Walker Kessler, playing against his old team, had two points and seven rebounds. The Lakers are now 3-0 in their first season without LeBron James. For the Jazz, Keyonte George had 24 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.
Thunder Win but Lose Three Players
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the LA Clippers 108-101 to also improve to 3-0. But the win came at a cost, as three players left the game injured.
Jalen Williams landed badly on his left foot in the fourth quarter, and the injury looked serious. Cason Wallace (left shoulder) and Jaylin Williams (right wrist) also left the game earlier.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points. After the game, he said Jalen Williams will come back even better, and that the team must stay strong until he returns.
Pistons Stay Perfect
The Detroit Pistons beat the Philadelphia 76ers 106-93 on the road. Joel Embiid did not play for Philadelphia. The win made Detroit the only unbeaten team left in the Eastern Conference.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, while Duncan Robinson added 21 points. Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points for the 76ers.
Knicks Still Looking for First Win
The defending champion New York Knicks lost 111-102 at home to the Orlando Magic. The Knicks led by 10 points in the fourth quarter but could not hold on. Orlando played without star Paolo Banchero.
Franz Wagner scored 21 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Magic. He also had 13 rebounds and nine assists. Jalen Brunson scored 28 points for New York.
The Knicks are only the third defending champions in NBA history to start a season 0-3. The others were the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks and the 1969-70 Boston Celtics.
Other Results
The Indiana Pacers beat the Brooklyn Nets 136-109, the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Toronto Raptors 117-94, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Sacramento Kings 123-112.