Luka Doncic Scores 42, Reaches Milestone And Leads Lakers To 13th Win In 14 Games

Luka Doncic, pinch nan eyes of 5 defenders fixed connected him successful nan paint, faked a lob pass. He threatened to wrap a walk astir Cleveland halfway Thomas Bryant’s back. Instead, nan Lakers superstar pulled up consecutive complete nan apical of Bryant’s outstretched arm, dropping a fadeaway jumper softly done nan net.

Doncic smiled slyly toward nan Lakers chair arsenic he backmost pedaled. He shrugged astatine himself.

Doncic brought backmost each his aged tricks aft serving a one-game suspension and continued his torrid March pinch 42 points, 12 assists and 5 rebounds successful nan Lakers’ 127-113 rout of nan Cavaliers (47-29) connected Tuesday astatine Crypto.com Arena.

Doncic, who was suspended for Monday’s crippled against nan Washington Wizards because of method foul accumulation, had his league-leading 16th 40-point game. The league’s starring scorer reached 15,000 points for his career, becoming nan third-youngest subordinate successful NBA history to scope nan mark.

LeBron James, who tops that list, added to it pinch 14 points and six assists. James became nan youngest personification to scope 15,000 points erstwhile he was 25 years and 79 days old. Now 41, nan league’s caller leader successful regular-season and playoff wins was questionable to play successful his 2nd crippled successful arsenic galore nights while managing near ft arthritis.

Lakers defender Bronny James, left, celebrates pinch his begetter and teammate LeBron James during nan first half Tuesday against nan Cavaliers astatine Crypto.com Arena.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

He didn’t discarded immoderate clip easing into nan game, chasing down Donovan Mitchell for a artifact connected nan opening possession. James had a thunderous one-handed dunk disconnected a lob from Austin Reaves successful modulation pinch 7:42 remaining successful nan 3rd 4th that put nan Lakers up by 17 points. Reaves had 19 points arsenic each 5 Lakers starters scored successful double figures.

The Lakers (50-26) reached 50 wins successful consecutive seasons for nan first clip since nan 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. Before tipping off, they had already locked up a playoff spot erstwhile nan Phoenix Suns mislaid to nan Orlando Magic, giving nan Lakers their 2nd consecutive Pacific Division title.

Before this month, nan Lakers, who’ve won 13 of their past 14 games, were fighting to clasp disconnected nan Suns successful nan sixth position successful nan West. But they reasserted themselves arsenic morganatic playoff contenders down Doncic’s historical brilliance.

The Lakers went 15-2 successful March, winning 8 games against teams pinch winning records. Doncic scored 600 points, becoming conscionable nan 2nd subordinate successful NBA history to scope nan 600-point people successful March, joining Michael Jordan. He is conscionable 1 of 10 players to people 600 points successful a month.

Doncic’s step-back threes, mid-range floaters and driving layups powered nan rise, but a uncommon dunk punctuated it. Doncic scored his last points of nan nighttime connected a two-handed dunk successful transition, methodically jumping disconnected of some feet earlier hardly clearing nan apical of nan rim.

The Lakers chair erupted successful cheers.