Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic scored 53 points on Friday night, leading his team to a 124-118 comeback victory over the Portland Trail Blazers after trailing by 16 points. Doncic shot 17-of-33 from the field, including five 3-pointers, and added 14 points on 18 free throws, along with five rebounds and five assists.
After the game, Blazers coach Micah Nori downplayed the performance, suggesting the volume of opportunities inflated the scoring total. "He's a really good player, but if you give any NBA player 33 shots and 18 free throws, they're probably going to score 40 to 50 as well," Nori said.
The argument overlooks Doncic's efficiency and the skill required to create those shots. Through nine games this season, Doncic is averaging 40.1 points while shooting 49.8% from the floor and 41.9% from three-point range. His 361 total points surpass Michael Jordan's 347 through nine games in 1986-87, with only Wilt Chamberlain's historic starts ahead of him.
Nori's Pregame Praise Contrasts Postgame Comment
Before the game, Nori had offered a far stronger assessment, calling Doncic "the MVP right now" and noting, "This is the best shape I've ever seen him in." He described the Lakers' offense as "a perfect offensive storm" with shooters surrounding Doncic and center Walker Kessler as a rolling target. Nori also cited Portland's 24 turnovers and the Lakers' 17 offensive rebounds as key factors in the loss.
Doncic Delivers in Critical Moments
Doncic's impact went beyond raw numbers. A banked heave before halftime cut Portland's lead to seven, and he then scored 20 points in the third quarter, outscoring the entire Blazers team in that period as Los Angeles seized control. With 27.7 seconds remaining, he hit a short jumper to secure the win. "I thought it was an important shot to make, so that's why I decided to make it," Doncic said afterward.
Asked about his historic scoring pace, Doncic remained focused on team success: "We're just 10 games in. We got 72 left. But as long as we win, I'm good."
