LOS ANGELES — Luka Dončić wasted absolutely no time reminding the NBA world why he’s one of the league’s most unstoppable forces. In a jaw-dropping return from injury, the Slovenian superstar erupted for 44 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, single-handedly dragging the Los Angeles Lakers back from a double-digit halftime deficit to edge the Memphis Grizzlies 117-112 in both teams’ NBA Cup opener on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Fresh off missing three games with a nagging finger sprain and lower-leg contusion, Dončić looked like a man possessed — or, as Lakers coach JJ Redick put it postgame, “like he forgot he was injured.” The 26-year-old guard torched Memphis for the third quarter alone, dropping 16 points in a blistering display that flipped the script on a Grizzlies squad that had built a commanding 69-55 halftime lead. “Luka’s rhythm was impeccable,” Redick added. “He didn’t just play; he orchestrated a comeback symphony.”
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The victory was seismic for the Lakers, who entered the night without LeBron James for the second straight game due to right sciatica. Yet, with Dončić back at the helm, Los Angeles erased the deficit in just seven minutes of the third frame and never looked back, navigating a frantic fourth quarter that featured 14 lead changes and seven ties. The final horn brought relief to a purple-and-gold crowd that had endured a rollercoaster ride, but it was Dončić’s heroics that etched this one into the books. This marks his 11th consecutive game scoring at least 25 points against the Grizzlies, a streak that now feels more like a curse for Memphis than a coincidence.
A Halftime Nightmare Turns into a Third-Quarter Miracle
Memphis came out swinging early, capitalizing on the Lakers’ rust without their aging icon. A devastating 27-4 run to close the second quarter — ignited by sharp ball movement and timely threes from Jock Landale and Jaylen Wells — buried Los Angeles in a 14-point hole at the break. Ja Morant, the Grizzlies’ electric point guard, looked primed to exploit the chaos, dishing seven assists even as his own shot betrayed him (just eight points on 3-for-14 shooting). Jaren Jackson Jr. added 15 points with his signature rim protection, while Landale and Wells each poured in 16 to keep the visitors humming.
But then, Dončić flipped the switch. Returning to the floor with a vengeance, he dissected Memphis’ defense like a surgeon, weaving through picks for mid-range jumpers, burying step-back threes, and crashing the glass for second-chance opportunities. His third-quarter barrage wasn’t just scoring; it was statement-making. A pull-up jumper with 4:12 left in the period tied the game at 71, and by the time the buzzer sounded, the Lakers had clawed to a 85-81 lead. “We were dead in the water,” admitted Austin Reaves, who chipped in a steady 21 points off the bench. “Luka just… revived us. It’s scary how he does that.”
Bench Depth and Grit Seal the Deal
The fourth quarter devolved into a back-and-forth slugfest, with Memphis refusing to fade quietly. Morant’s playmaking kept the Grizzlies in striking distance, and Jackson’s late three-pointer pulled them within three at 110-107 with under two minutes to play. But Dončić, ever the closer, answered with a dagger three of his own, followed by a steal-and-score that pushed the lead to seven. Jake LaRavia’s 13 points provided a spark for LA, but it was the collective grit — including timely stops from Anthony Davis (who finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds) — that slammed the door.
For Memphis, the loss stings in the NBA Cup context, where every group-stage win carries weight toward advancement. Morant’s inefficiency (a season-low output) highlighted ongoing questions about the Grizzlies’ reliance on their star amid a crowded Western Conference. “We had them,” said Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins. “But Luka’s a different animal. Hats off — we’ll bounce back.”
Bigger Picture: Lakers Reloaded and Ready
This wasn’t just a win; it was a declaration. The Lakers, now 2-3 on the young season, showed they can thrive sans LeBron when Dončić is dialed in. His line — 44/12/6 on 16-of-28 shooting — is the kind of stat stuff that fuels MVP chatter, especially against a Grizzlies team that’s perennially playoff-bound. As LA eyes the Cup’s next slate, the message is clear: With Luka leading the charge, the purple-and-gold are far from finished.
Up next for the Lakers: a road tilt against the Denver Nuggets on Monday. For Memphis, it’s a quick turnaround hosting the Pelicans on Sunday. In a league where health is king, Dončić’s return feels like a cheat code — and the NBA is all the better for it.