Luka's 41-Point Breakthrough: Lakers Top Bucks as Thunder Keep Rolling

Doncic fuels Lakers to victory in Milwaukee

Luka Doncic scored 41 points to pace the Los Angeles Lakers to a 119-95 road win over the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning champions, opened the season with a 109-96 triumph at the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.

In Milwaukee, the Lakers jumped ahead early, built a 12-point lead in the first quarter, and extended the margin to 31 points by halftime (65-34), before maintaining control through the second half.

LeBron James has been out since the season’s start with a sciatic nerve issue, and there are hopeful signs he could return soon as the team pushes for consistency this early in the campaign.

Dončić, 26, was a force, finishing with 41 points, including five three-pointers on 11 attempts, 18 of 20 from the line, nine rebounds and nine assists.

Austin Reaves contributed 25 points with eight assists and six rebounds, while De'Andre Ayton added 20 points and 10 boards.

After the game, Doncic highlighted the team's energy and chemistry, noting that everyone had to rely on one another given the grind of a long season and the fatigue clock. He also touched on LeBron's possible return with cautious optimism.

"Lakers came out ready and we found the energy we needed," he said. "We have to stay with each other and keep building."

Leaning on the early run

The Lakers set the tone by taking a 30-18 first-quarter lead and stretching it to a 31-point gap by halftime after winning the second period 19-0 in favor of Los Angeles, 65-34 at the break.

The Bucks rallied slightly in the third, trimming the deficit to 20, but the Lakers steadied and closed out the game with a 24-point margin.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, but the Bucks’ offense misfired—especially in the opening half, where 31 of their 41 first-half attempts came up empty from the field.

Thunder stay hot

In the nightcap, Oklahoma City Thunder extended their season-opening surge to five straight wins with a 109-96 road win at Charlotte, powered by 33 points from Canadian guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in under 30 minutes.

Charlotte kept things tight through the opening frame and trailed 52-55 at halftime, but the Thunder pulled away in the third, outscoring the Hornets 16-1 at one stretch to seize control.

The Cavaliers rallied to beat the Grizzlies 108-100 behind 30 points from Donovan Mitchell and 32-16 run in the final period. Evan Mobley added 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Jaren Jackson Jr. paced Memphis with 26 before Morant left early with a right calf issue.

The Nuggets returned home to beat the Timberwolves 123-112 as Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Tim Hardaway Jr. each scored 23, with Gordon adding 12 assists and Murray 12 assists as well.

On the other side, Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle both poured in 26 for the losing squads, with Edwards grabbing eight rebounds and six assists, and Randle distributing six assists with eight boards.

Toronto completed a strong road win at Indiana, 129-111, as RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl each totaled 22 and Pascal Siakam led the visitors with 30 points.

Tonight’s action underscored a busy slate as teams navigate early-season form and injuries while the league keeps delivering late-night drama for basketball fans.

Punchline time: If scoring were a stand-up routine, Luka just dropped the mic on the rim and walked away with the encore. And for the Bucks, the defense clearly filed for vacation—note to self: bring a map next time, because a stop seems to be hiding somewhere far, far away.

Second punchline: They say size doesn’t matter in comedy, but in basketball it sure does—Luka proved it again, turning a night into a highlight reel while the Bucks checked the scoreboard and asked for directions to the exit. Hurry back, LeBron; the league misses the dramatic finish.