LOS ANGELES – Luka Doncic scored 49 points to become the fourth player in NBA history to start a season with back-to-back 40-point performances, topping the list. Los Angeles Lakers to a 128-110 victory over Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday evening.
Doncic followed up his 43-point performance in the opening night loss to Golden State with his highest scoring performance ever in a Lakers jersey: 14 of 23 with five 3-pointers while adding 11 rebounds and eight assists.
The Slovenian superstar also made 16 of his 19 free throws, but missed his final two field goal attempts and a late free throw to fall short of his eighth career 50-point game.
Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Anthony Davis also started their NBA seasons with a pair of 40-point games. Last winter, Doncic was traded to Los Angeles for Davis.
Anthony Edwards scored 31 points and Julius Randle had 26 for Minnesota, which failed to slow the Lakers' offense in a rematch of last season's first-round playoff series, won by the Wolves in five games.
Austin Reeves had 25 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, Rui Hachimura had 23 and Deandre Ayton 15 for the Lakers.
LeBron James watched from the Lakers bench, wearing his youngest son Bryce's Arizona Wildcats jersey. The NBA's all-time leading scorer is out until at least mid-November with sciatica.
Doncic slightly injured his groin in the Lakers' opener and also injured his left hand in the opening moments of the Minnesota game, repeatedly clutching it while doubled over in pain.
He still scored 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting and four 3-pointers in the first quarter, tying Kobe Bryant and Kyle Kuzma for the Lakers' highest-scoring first quarter in 30 years.
Doncic had 32 points at halftime and added seven quick points early in the fourth quarter as the Lakers led by 20.
Bronny James made his season debut for the Lakers, playing 3:14 in the finals.
Timberwolves: Host Indiana on Sunday night.
Lakers: At Sacramento on Sunday night.
