Luka Dončić posts first 50-point game with Lakers

The star guard's historic performance leads Lakers to victory over Bulls

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:28am

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Luka Dončić, the star guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, recorded his first 50-point game with the franchise on Thursday night. Dončić scored 51 points on 17-of-31 shooting, adding 10 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals in the Lakers' 142-130 win over the Chicago Bulls. This was Dončić's eighth career 50-point game and his first since the 2023-24 season, when he scored 73 points. The Lakers' victory gives them sole possession of the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference standings.

Why it matters

Dončić's historic performance is a significant milestone for the Lakers, who acquired the star guard in a trade over a year ago. His ability to score at will and stuff the stat sheet has been a major factor in the team's success this season as they push for a deep playoff run.

The details

Dončić's 51-point outburst included 8-of-9 shooting from the free-throw line. Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised Dončić's play, saying he's "playing as well as anybody in the NBA right now." Dončić also revealed that Bulls guard Matas Buzelis had sparked him into action with some "heated words" in the second quarter, which "woke him up." The Lakers also got a strong performance from Austin Reaves, who scored 30 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds.

  • Dončić's previous scoring high with the Lakers was 49 points on October 24.
  • This was Dončić's eighth career 50-point game and his first since the 2023-24 season, when he scored 73 points.

The players

Luka Dončić

The star guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, who recorded his first 50-point game with the franchise on Thursday night.

JJ Redick

The head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, who praised Dončić's performance, saying he's "playing as well as anybody in the NBA right now."

Matas Buzelis

The Chicago Bulls guard who sparked Dončić into action with some "heated words" in the second quarter.

Austin Reaves

The Lakers guard who scored 30 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds in the win over the Bulls.

LeBron James

The Lakers veteran who contributed 18 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds in the game.

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What they’re saying

“He's playing as well as anybody in the NBA right now. It's probably not being talked about enough, but I'm gonna talk about it.”

— JJ Redick, Lakers Head Coach

“In the second quarter, I could feel it. Somebody started talking to me, so it woke me up... Matas, I was surprised... I didn't say nothing to him. Wasn't very nice.”

— Luka Dončić

What’s next

The Lakers will look to build on Dončić's historic performance as they continue their push for a top playoff seed in the Western Conference.

The takeaway

Luka Dončić's 50-point outburst is a testament to his elite scoring ability and his importance to the Lakers' success this season. His ability to take over games and lead his team to victory makes him one of the most dominant players in the NBA.