LOS ANGELES — After Luka Doncic scored 49 factors within the Lakers’ 128-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday — shattering Jerry West’s 56-year franchise file of 81 factors scored by the primary two video games of a season — his teammate Austin Reaves was requested a query.

May Doncic, who has scored 92 factors this season, common 40?

“Sure,” Reaves advised ESPN.

May Doncic common 40, and would it not assist the workforce win?

“Sure,” Reaves continued. “He’s so good, it’s bizarre.”

It was uncanny to see the effectiveness of the Doncic-led Lakers offense in its second sport of the season in contrast with Tuesday’s 119-109 season-opening loss to the Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers shot higher from the sector, 59.2% in contrast with 54.5% on Tuesday, and have been significantly better from 3, capturing 41.4% in contrast with 25%. In addition they dedicated fewer turnovers, 12 in contrast with 19.

And Doncic was the fixed, turning into the primary participant in Lakers historical past with consecutive 40-point video games to start out a season and simply the fourth in NBA historical past, becoming a member of Anthony Davis, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

“I want we gained the primary sport, however clearly it’s comeback,” Doncic stated after ending 14-for-23 from the ground, together with 5-for-12 from 3, and 16-for-19 from the free throw line. “I believe Minnesota is a superb workforce. We needed to do lots to win at the moment. However myself, I really feel nice. I wish to win each sport.”

Doncic added 11 rebounds and eight assists, becoming a member of Reaves (25 factors, 11 assists, 7 rebounds) with a double-double. Rui Hachimura scored 23 factors on 10-for-13 capturing, and Deandre Ayton had 15 factors and eight rebounds.

“He, after all, dominates the entire sport so simply,” Hachimura stated. “And it’s not some random workforce we performed in opposition to. They’re a Western Convention finals workforce. So that is loopy.”

After trailing by as many as 11 factors within the first quarter, the Lakers minimize Minnesota’s result in 4 heading into the second quarter as Doncic tied Kobe Bryant and Kyle Kuzma for probably the most first-quarter factors in workforce historical past with 23.

The Lakers dominated the center two quarters 72-54 in opposition to the Timberwolves, who eradicated them from the playoffs final season.

Doncic stated revenge didn’t gasoline the efficiency.

“I simply wish to neglect about final season,” Doncic stated. “I used to be making an attempt to maneuver on. I don’t actually take into consideration that first-round collection.”

The workforce was interested by its poor third-quarter exhibiting in opposition to the Warriors, although, when Golden State outscored the Lakers 35-25 to interrupt the sport open.

On Friday, a number of Lakers gamers left the halftime locker room early to take warmup pictures on the court docket whereas the halftime present — a hand-balancing acrobat, Christian, and his canine, Scooby — was nonetheless ending its act.

And L.A. gained the third 40-31.

“I believe for the primary time in Lakers historical past, the opposite workforce known as the primary timeout within the third quarter,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated. “Had a pleasant ‘all proper, all proper’ with the group. ‘All proper, group, we did it!'”

As a lot because the third quarter was a trigger for celebration for Redick, he had one nitpick of Doncic within the fourth.

Throughout a late timeout, with L.A. up by 23 factors and three:29 remaining, Redick chided Doncic for being caught at 48 factors.

“I’m making an attempt to get the man 50, and yeah, I’d already given him three possibilities,” Redick stated. “I gave a fourth probability. He will get fouled after which he blows that, too.”

Doncic went 1-for-2 from the foul line with 3:05 remaining, bringing his whole to 49 factors, probably the most he has scored as a Laker, and Redick subbed him out shortly thereafter.

The victory was Ayton’s first with the Lakers, thanks largely to the man who tormented his Phoenix Suns workforce within the playoffs years in the past.

“Similar to the identical means I see it once I’m on the opposite facet — shocked,” Ayton stated when requested what it was prefer to witness Doncic’s evening. “Like, ‘Oh my god, I can’t consider he’s doing this. When is he going to overlook?’ You realize, issues like that.

“I needed him to get 50 tonight, although.”